Hurricane season and summer grid strain knock out power across the Rio Grande Valley every year. A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch restores power in seconds — without you lifting a finger. Eletech installs and services all major brands: Generac, Kohler and Briggs & Stratton.
The two main types of home generators work very differently. Here's a direct comparison to help you decide:
| Feature | Portable Generator | Standby Generator |
|---|---|---|
| Startup During Outage | Manual — you go outside and start it | Automatic — starts within 10–30 seconds |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline (stored — expires in 30 days) | Natural gas or propane (automatic supply) |
| Runs How Long? | As long as you have gas (1–2 days max) | Indefinitely — as long as gas service is on |
| What It Powers | Extension cords only — no built-in circuits | Whole home or selected circuits via transfer switch |
| Carbon Monoxide Risk | Must run outside — deaths occur from indoor use | Outdoor mounted — no indoor CO risk |
| Transfer Switch Required? | Illegal to back-feed without one | Automatic transfer switch included |
| Install Cost | $500–$2,000 (unit only) | $5,000–$15,000 (unit + install + transfer switch) |
| Best For | Occasional short outages under 24 hours | Reliable protection for all outage scenarios |
June through November, tropical storms and hurricanes move through the Rio Grande Valley and take power lines with them. Outages can last days while crews work through the whole region. A standby generator starts on its own within seconds.
Triple-digit Valley summers push the Texas grid to its limit. When demand peaks, rolling outages and brownouts follow — and losing AC in that heat is a genuine safety risk for families and pets, not just an inconvenience.
For homeowners with CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, or refrigerated medications, a power outage isn't an inconvenience — it's a medical emergency. A standby generator is essential peace of mind.
Edinburg-area homes with private wells or basement sump pumps need backup power to maintain water supply and prevent flooding during extended outages. We size generators specifically for these loads.
We visit your home and calculate your electrical load requirements — how many circuits you want protected, whether you need whole-home or essential-circuit coverage, and what generator size is appropriate. We help you right-size so you're not paying for capacity you don't need.
We work with Generac, Kohler, and Briggs & Stratton standby generators. We quote you on the unit, pad, automatic transfer switch, and complete installation — no surprises. Most whole-home generators are 20kW–22kW for Edinburg homes.
Generator installs require both an electrical permit and a gas permit in Edinburg. We pull both and coordinate with NW Natural for gas line extension if needed. We also handle HOA approval paperwork for communities that require it.
We pour a code-compliant concrete pad at the proper setback from your home and neighbors. The generator is secured to the pad, connected to gas, and weatherproofed for wet winters.
An automatic transfer switch is installed between your meter and panel — it monitors utility power and automatically switches to generator within seconds of an outage, then switches back seamlessly when utility power returns.