Backup Generator Installation
Across Southern Ontario
Residential, Commercial & Industrial Generator Installation
Why Southern Ontario Homeowners & Businesses Need Backup Power
Ontario ice storms, grid failures, and summer outages can knock out power for hours - or days. Redding Electric installs whole-home standby generators, commercial backup power systems, and industrial transfer switches that detect an outage and restore your power automatically, within seconds.
Ontario experiences some of Canada's most disruptive weather-related power outages. The 2013 Toronto ice storm left hundreds of thousands without power for up to five days. Summer thunderstorms regularly knock out distribution lines across the GTA. And as electrical demand on the grid grows, grid reliability is only becoming more important to protect against.
For homeowners, a power outage means frozen pipes in winter, spoiled groceries, lost heat, and security systems going offline. For businesses, it means lost revenue, equipment damage, and reputational impact with customers. For industrial and process facilities, it can mean equipment damage worth far more than the cost of a generator installation.
A properly installed standby generator with an automatic transfer switch is the only solution that requires zero action from you - it detects the outage and switches to generator power within seconds, automatically, whether you're home or not.
Licensed Electrical Contractor | ECRA/ESA Licence: #7016309
Serving Southern Ontario | Mon – Sat: 8am – 4:30pm
Auto
Automatic Transfer Switch - power restored in seconds
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Sectors Served - Residential, Commercial & Industrial
ESA
Permits & Inspection Included on Every Job
23
Cities Served Across Southern Ontario
Standby vs. Portable - Which Generator Is Right for You?
There are two broad categories of backup generators. Redding Electric specializes in permanently installed standby systems - here's why that matters.
Standby Generator
RECOMMENDED
A permanently installed standby generator sits outside your home or facility, connected directly to your natural gas or propane supply and your electrical panel via a transfer switch. When utility power fails, the generator starts automatically and begins powering your home or business within seconds - no extension cords, no manual startup, no refuelling during a storm.
Standby generators are available in sizes from 7kW (essential circuits only) up to 150kW+ for large commercial and industrial applications. This is what Redding Electric installs.
Power source: Natural gas or propane
Startup: Automatic (seconds)
Fuel storage: None required
Permit required: Yes - ESA
Best for: Homes, businesses, industrial
Portable Generator
Portable generators are gasoline or propane-powered units that must be manually started, set up outdoors (never indoors - carbon monoxide risk), and connected via extension cords or a manual transfer switch. They're less expensive upfront but far less convenient and reliable during an actual emergency. They also can't power your whole home and must be continuously refuelled.
Redding Electric can wire a manual transfer switch for a portable generator if that's your current situation - but for whole-home and business protection, a standby system is always the better long-term investment.
Power source: Natural gas or propane
Startup: Manual - you must be home
Fuel storage: Required on-site
Permit required: Yes - ESA
Best for: Budget-limited, occasional use
Automatic Transfer vs. Manual Transfer Switches
The transfer switch is the critical component that safely connects and disconnects your generator from your home or building's electrical system. Using a generator without a properly installed transfer switch is illegal in Ontario and extremely dangerous - it can back-feed power onto the utility line and electrocute utility workers.
Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)
Standard with all standby generator installations
RECOMMENDED
An automatic transfer switch monitors utility power continuously. The moment it detects an outage, it signals the generator to start, waits for it to reach stable output, then transfers your electrical loads from utility to generator - all within 10–30 seconds. When utility power is restored, the process reverses automatically.
✅No action required - works whether you're home or away
✅Safe - cannot back-feed onto the utility line
✅Protects sensitive equipment from power fluctuations
✅Required for all standby generator installations
✅Can be whole-panel or selected circuits
Manual Transfer Switch (MTS)
For portable generator connections
A manual transfer switch requires you to physically flip the switch from utility to generator power once the generator is running. It's less expensive than an ATS and is the code-compliant way to connect a portable generator to your home's wiring - far safer than the illegal "suicide cord" method some homeowners use.
✅More affordable than ATS
✅Safe and code-compliant for portable generators
⚠️Requires manual operation — you must be present
⚠️Limited to selected critical circuits only
⚠️Does not work with standby generators
Not sure which transfer switch is right for your situation?
Call us and we'll walk you through it in a few minutes.
Everything Included in a Redding Electric Generator Installation
A complete backup generator installation involves far more than setting down a unit and running a wire. Here's the full scope of what we handle on every job.
Residential: Whole-home standby generator installation for homeowners across Southern Ontario. We handle everything from load calculation and generator sizing through to gas line coordination, ATS installation, ESA permit, and final inspection. Your home stays warm, safe, and powered during any Ontario outage - automatically.
Commercial: Business continuity depends on reliable power. We install commercial standby generators for restaurants, retail, medical and dental offices, property managers, and commercial facilities. We work with your general contractor and building management to minimize disruption during installation and ensure your systems are compliant with Ontario building and electrical codes.
Industrial: Industrial facilities require more complex transfer systems - often involving multiple transfer switches, load shedding panels, and coordination with process control systems. Redding Electric's industrial electrical background makes us uniquely qualified for these installations. We've worked on generator and transfer switch systems for manufacturing, water/wastewater, and process facilities across Southern Ontario.
Load Calculation & Sizing
We calculate your exact electrical load requirements and recommend the correctly sized generator - never over or under sizing based on guesswork or manufacturer upsell pressure.
Generator Connection Wiring
Proper electrical connection from generator to transfer switch using correctly sized conductors, conduit, and disconnects - all to Ontario Electrical Safety Code and Canadian Electrical Code requirements.
Gas Line Coordination
We coordinate directly with your gas utility or a licensed gas contractor for the natural gas or propane connection to your new generator - ensuring the fuel supply is correctly sized for your unit's demand.
ESA Permit Application
We handle the ESA permit application on your behalf. Every generator installation in Ontario requires one - we include it in every quote as standard, not an add-on.
Dedicated Disconnect
Installation of a lockable generator disconnect switch - required for safe maintenance access and utility worker protection. Often overlooked by less experienced installers.
Load Testing & Commissioning
Before we leave, we simulate an outage condition to verify the ATS detects the outage, the generator starts, transfers load, and restores power correctly. You watch it work before we call the job done.
Transfer Switch Installation
Automatic or manual transfer switch installation and connection - properly sized, correctly wired, and tested to ensure safe, reliable switching between utility and generator power.
Pad & Placement Coordination
We advise on generator placement relative to windows, gas meters, and property lines to meet code clearances and ensure proper exhaust ventilation. We coordinate with your pad contractor where needed.
ESA Inspection & Certificate
We coordinate the ESA inspection and are on-site for it. You receive the inspection certificate - required for your home insurance records, manufacturer warranty, and any future property sale.
Our Generator Installation Process
From your first call to your first automatic test - here's exactly what to expect when you book Redding Electric for your backup generator installation.
01
Free Consultation & Load Assessment
We start by understanding your goals - do you want essential circuits only, or full whole-home coverage? We assess your current electrical panel, calculate your load requirements, and recommend the right generator size for your home or facility. You'll receive a detailed written quote covering the full scope before any work is committed to.
02
ESA Permit Application
All generator installations in Ontario require an Electrical Safety Authority permit. We handle the application on your behalf - it's included in your quote. Any electrician who suggests skipping the permit is not someone you want doing this work. The permit protects you legally, preserves your home insurance coverage, and ensures the installation is inspected by an independent safety authority.
03
Generator Placement & Pad Preparation
Standby generators are permanently installed on a concrete or composite pad outside your home or facility, at Ontario-code-required clearances from windows, doors, gas meters, and property lines. We advise on the correct placement and coordinate with your pad contractor. If you need a pad poured, we can refer a trusted concrete contractor - or we can work with your existing arrangement.
04
Transfer Switch & Electrical Installation
We install the automatic transfer switch - either whole-panel (full-home coverage) or a critical-load sub-panel (selected circuits) - and run the electrical connection from the transfer switch to the generator location. All wiring is done in proper conduit, with the correct conductor sizing for the generator's output and the length of the run. A lockable disconnect is installed at the generator.
05
Gas Line Connection
We coordinate directly with your gas utility (Enbridge, Union Gas) or a licensed gas contractor to connect the generator to your natural gas supply or propane tank. The gas line must be correctly sized for the generator's BTU demand at full load - undersized gas lines cause generators to fail to start or shut down under load, which is a common installation error we see when homeowners hire the wrong contractor.
06
Load Testing & Commissioning
With everything connected, we commission the system by simulating an outage. The ATS should detect the loss of utility power, start the generator, wait for stable voltage and frequency, transfer your electrical loads across, and maintain power until utility is restored - all automatically. We verify timing, voltage, frequency, and transfer function before signing off on the installation.
07
ESA Inspection & Handoff
The ESA inspector verifies the installation meets Ontario Electrical Safety Code. We're on-site for the inspection. Once approved, you receive the ESA certificate. We walk you through the generator's maintenance schedule, weekly self-test feature, and what to expect during an actual outage. You leave knowing exactly how your new system works - and confident that it will work when you need it most.
"The time to install a backup generator is before the outage - not during it.
Once the storm hits, every generator installer in Southern Ontario is booked solid."
Generator Brands We Install
We install all major residential and commercial standby generator brands. If you've already purchased a unit, we can install it. If you haven't yet, we'll recommend the right brand and model for your application and budget.
Generac
The most popular home standby generator brand in North America.
Generac's Guardian and Protector series cover residential through commercial applications from 7kW to 150kW.
Reliable, widely serviced, and backed by strong dealer support across Ontario.
Cummins
Cummins is the preferred brand for heavy commercial and industrial standby power - from 20kW commercial quiet series through to 2000kW+ industrial units.
Cummins generators are used in hospitals, data centres, and critical infrastructure facilities worldwide.
Kohler
Kohler generators are known for premium build quality and quiet operation.
The Kohler RES and RESVL residential series offer whole-home coverage, while the industrial KOHLER series covers large commercial and industrial applications with exceptional reliability.
Caterpillar
CAT generators are the gold standard for large industrial and commercial standby power applications.
If your facility requires reliable, high-output backup power for critical operations, CAT's industrial diesel and natural gas generator sets are a proven choice.
Briggs & Stratton
A trusted name in power equipment with a strong lineup of residential standby generators from 10kW to 20kW.
Briggs & Stratton units offer good value in the mid-range residential market and are well-supported across Southern Ontario.
Other Brands
We also install Champion, Honeywell (Generac-built), GE, and other CSA-approved standby generator brands.
Already have a unit? Bring it - if it's CSA-approved for use in Canada and meets Ontario code, we can install and commission it.
Backup Generator Installation Across Southern Ontario
We install residential, commercial, and industrial backup generator systems throughout the following communities - from the GTA west to Kitchener-Cambridge and south to the Niagara Region. Our licensed electricians are available Monday through Saturday, 8am to 4:30pm, throughout the following communities:
Oakville | Mississauga | Burlington | Toronto | Etobicoke | Scarborough | Vaughan | King City | Guelph | Kitchener | Cambridge | Milton | Brampton | Grimsby | Caledonia | St. Catharine's | Erin | Dundas | Waterdown | Port Credit | Bronte | Erin Mills | Carlisle
Not sure if we cover your area? (905) 484-3347 Call or text anytime Mon – Sat, 8am – 4:30pm.
