Standby Generator Installation in NH & MA
When an ice storm or nor'easter takes the power out in southern New Hampshire or the Merrimack Valley, it can stay out for days. Moore Electric installs home standby generators that start on their own when the grid drops, for homeowners in Plaistow, NH, Haverhill, MA and the towns around them. Every install is supervised by Brenden Moore, a licensed Master Electrician.
Moore Electric is a family-owned electrical contractor based at 21 Wentworth Ave in Plaistow, New Hampshire. It installs home standby generators across southern New Hampshire and the northern Massachusetts towns of the Merrimack Valley, with local pages for generator installation in Plaistow, NH and standby generators in Haverhill, MA. Owner Brenden Moore is a Master Electrician licensed in New Hampshire (#14511) and Massachusetts (#22825) with more than 25 years in the trade, and he supervises every generator project. The company sizes each system with an on-site load assessment, installs the transfer switch, pulls the electrical permit and schedules the inspection. When an older home needs it first, the same team handles the electrical panel upgrade.
- Based in: Plaistow, NH, about three miles from downtown Haverhill, MA
- Licenses: NH #14511, MA #22825
- On every job: Brenden Moore, Master Electrician
- Google rating: 5.0 from 24 reviews
- Included: load assessment, transfer switch, permit, inspection
- Financing: available for qualifying customers
Power Outages Here Are Not a Rare Event
Southern New Hampshire and the Merrimack Valley get the same mix every year: nor'easters, ice, heavy wet snow and summer thunderstorms, all landing on tree-lined streets fed by overhead lines. When the damage is widespread, restoration takes days. The December 2008 ice storm cut power to more than 300,000 customers of New Hampshire's largest utility, and it took 13 days to restore all of them.
For most homeowners here, losing power means losing heat (oil, gas and propane systems still need electricity for their burners, blowers and pumps), losing water from a well pump, and losing the sump pump right when the snow melts. For families with medical equipment, the stakes are higher still.
A standby generator closes that gap. It senses the outage and starts on its own within seconds, whether you are home or away.
Not all generator installs are equal. A standby generator connects directly to your home's electrical service and gas supply. Sizing it, wiring the transfer switch, and getting it permitted and inspected is licensed electrical work, and the gas or propane piping is licensed, permitted work of its own. This is not a job for a general handyman.
What a Generator Protects
- Heating & cooling systems (HVAC, heat pumps)
- Well pump & water supply
- Refrigerator & freezer
- Medical equipment & devices
- EV charger & sump pump
Standby vs. Portable Generators
Before committing to any generator, it helps to know what each type actually does, and what it doesn't.
- Lower purchase price
- Portable, can be stored away
- Manual start, so someone has to be home
- Runs on gasoline, which can be hard to find during a storm
- Powers limited circuits only
- Carbon monoxide risk if used improperly
- Has to be set up outdoors, away from windows, every time
- Turns on automatically within seconds
- Runs on natural gas or propane, with no gas cans to refill
- Powers your whole home or all critical circuits
- Works whether you're home or away
- Permanent installation on a pad outside the home
- Runs self-tests weekly
- Sized for essential circuits or the whole house
Already own a portable generator? The safe way to connect it is through a properly installed manual transfer switch. Never plug a generator into a dryer outlet or a wall receptacle, because it can send power back onto the utility lines and endanger line workers.
What a Professional Generator Installation Includes
Moore Electric handles every step from initial sizing through final inspection. Here's what's included in every installation.
Brenden reviews your panel and calculates your home's exact power needs to size the right generator, not too small and not oversized.
Moore Electric installs an automatic transfer switch (ATS) that detects an outage and switches your home to generator power within seconds.
In both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, a standby generator needs an electrical permit and an inspection from your town or city. Moore Electric pulls the electrical permit and schedules the inspection. Skipping it can cause problems with insurance claims and at resale.
For a natural gas connection or a propane tank, Moore Electric coordinates with your gas utility or propane supplier, so the fuel hookup (separately licensed and permitted work) lines up with the electrical install.
Generator pad or mounting set to code and manufacturer clearance requirements. Proper placement accounts for clearances, exhaust direction, and long-term serviceability.
Brenden personally starts the system, verifies everything is running correctly, and walks you through how your generator operates and self-tests.
Generac Generator Installation
Generac is one of the most widely installed home standby brands. Its residential units come in a wide range of sizes and include remote monitoring through the Mobile Link app, so you can check the generator's status from your phone.
Moore Electric installs Generac standby generators for homeowners in southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. The brand matters less than the sizing and the install: an undersized unit or a poorly wired transfer switch causes problems no matter whose name is on the enclosure.
Manufacturer warranties generally depend on the unit being installed to the manufacturer's instructions and local code, which is one more reason to have the work permitted and inspected.
- Manufacturer warranty coverage can be put at risk
- Transfer switch wiring needs an electrical permit and inspection in NH and MA
- Homeowners insurance may not cover fire or damage from unpermitted work
- Improper transfer switch installation creates serious backfeed hazards for utility workers. If you notice electrical issues after an unpermitted install, have a licensed electrician look at it
- Problems found at resale when unpermitted work surfaces during inspection
How Do You Know What Size You Need?
Generator sizing depends on which circuits and appliances you want running during an outage. Square footage is only a starting point. Here's how most projects break down.
Natural gas vs. propane affects both installation and ongoing cost. Homes on natural gas typically have lower fuel costs. Propane needs a tank but works anywhere a gas line doesn't reach. Some homes also need a panel upgrade before a generator can be added, and Moore Electric can assess both in the same visit.
What Does Generator Installation Cost in NH and MA?
There is no single price, because every home is different: the size of the system, your existing electrical setup and what the site needs all change the job. Brenden walks through all of this during a free on-site assessment before any numbers are put on paper.
The biggest factors that influence your final price:
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Generator Size & Brand
Larger generators and premium models cost more to buy but typically offer better reliability and warranty coverage.
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Transfer Switch Type
Automatic transfer switches cost more than manual ones, but they are standard on standby systems because they let the generator take over with no one home.
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Gas Line or Propane Tank
Homes without existing natural gas may need propane tank installation or gas line trenching, which adds to the total.
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Panel Capacity
Some older homes need a panel upgrade before a generator can be properly integrated. Moore Electric can quote both together.
After assessing your home, Brenden puts the full scope and price in writing, so you know what the job includes before any work is scheduled.
"Brenden and his crew were very knowledgeable and helpful from the estimate to the final inspection." Ryan S., Google review
Request a Free AssessmentOr call 603-836-9513
Payment Options
Can You Finance a Generator Installation?
Most people start shopping for a standby generator the week after an outage, which is rarely when the budget is ready. Financing is available for qualifying customers. That gets the install done before the next storm instead of after it.
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1
Get your written quote
Brenden walks the job, then puts the full scope and the price in writing.
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2
We send you the application
It arrives by email or text. Apply whenever you have a few minutes free.
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3
Get approved, then get scheduled
Once you are approved, your project goes on the calendar.
Financing Available
Ask about payment options when Brenden assesses your home. Once you are approved, we schedule from there.
Ask About FinancingFinancing available for qualifying customers. See how financing works.
Ready to Stop Worrying About the Next Storm?
On-site work for most standby installations takes 1 to 2 days once the equipment, fuel and permit are lined up. Moore Electric handles everything from the permit to the final inspection.
Why Homeowners Choose Moore Electric for Generator Installation
Generator installation is one of the most complex residential electrical projects there is. Who does it matters.
Brenden Moore personally oversees every generator installation. Not a project manager or a crew lead: the licensed Master Electrician himself.
Moore Electric handles every permit and inspection. This protects your warranty, your insurance, and your home's resale value.
You get the scope and price in writing after the assessment, before anything goes on the calendar.
Brenden has installed and serviced electrical systems across New Hampshire and Massachusetts for more than 25 years. Generator installations are complex, and experience shows in the details.
This is not a franchise or a large crew of subcontractors. Moore Electric is a family business built on referrals and repeat customers.
Generator installs involve multiple steps, utility coordination, and inspections. Brenden keeps you informed at every stage.
What Do Homeowners Say About Moore Electric?
"Brenden and his crew were very knowledgeable and helpful from the estimate to the final inspection. Any questions I had were answered promptly and very clearly. 10 out 10 recommend Moore electric and crew!"
"They upgrade our main panel and outside service. Very professional, friendly, courteous. Definitely recommend"
"I've been in the trades most of my life. I've worked with, for and have employed many trades guys. Brenden and his crew are among the best I've done business with. Reliable, communicative, fair, honest, and the list goes on. Highly recommend."
Generator Installation FAQs
Yes. In both states a standby generator needs an electrical permit and an inspection from your town or city, and the gas or propane piping is permitted separately. In Plaistow that runs through the Town of Plaistow Building Department, and in Haverhill through the city's Inspectional Services Department. Moore Electric pulls the electrical permit and schedules the inspection as part of every installation.
A manual transfer switch requires you to physically flip a switch when the power goes out. An automatic transfer switch (ATS) detects the outage and switches to generator power within seconds, with no action needed. For a true standby system, an automatic transfer switch is standard.
Most residential standby generator installations take 1-2 days for the electrical work. If propane tank delivery or gas line extension is needed, that may add additional time for the gas contractor's portion. Moore Electric coordinates the full timeline so you know what to expect.
New Hampshire lets a homeowner do electrical work in a single-family home they own and live in, with a permit and inspection. Massachusetts generally requires a licensed electrician. Either way, a transfer switch that is wired wrong can send power back onto the utility lines and put line workers at risk, and unpermitted work can cause trouble with insurance and warranties. Most homeowners have a licensed electrician do it.
Yes. Moore Electric installs Generac standby generators for homes in southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts, and recommends a model after the load assessment based on what you want powered and your fuel source.
Yes. Moore Electric is based in Plaistow, about three miles from Haverhill. Plaistow homes are on Unitil power, and the permit goes through the Town of Plaistow; see generator installation in Plaistow, NH. Haverhill homes are on National Grid, and the permit goes through the City of Haverhill; see standby generators in Haverhill, MA.
Some older homes do need a panel upgrade before a generator can be added correctly. Brenden assesses your panel during the free on-site visit and can quote both the panel work and generator installation together if needed.
Yes, but sizing matters. Homes with EV chargers or heat pumps typically need a 24 kW or larger system to run everything simultaneously. Moore Electric's load assessment accounts for all high-draw appliances in your home.
Yes. Financing is available for qualifying customers. After Brenden assesses your home and gives you a written quote, let us know you would like to look at payment options. We send an application link to your email or phone, you apply on your own time, and once you are approved we schedule the installation. Call 603-836-9513 to get started.
Where Do We Install Standby Generators?
Moore Electric is based in Plaistow, New Hampshire, about three miles from downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts. Most generator projects are in these two communities and the towns around them.
Plaistow, NH Generator Installation
Unitil power and gas, Town of Plaistow permits, and our home base on Wentworth Ave.
Haverhill, MA Standby Generators
National Grid service, City of Haverhill permits, from Bradford to Rocks Village.
Not sure if we cover your area? Call 603-836-9513. Coverage can vary by project type.
Don't Wait Until the Power's Already Out
Booking your assessment before the first winter storm leaves time for sizing, the permit and the install, instead of shopping the week after an outage.
Moore Electric | NH Lic #14511 | MA Lic #22825