08/29/2026
Today, I received a text message from a client sharing heartbreaking news: her friend’s home reportedly burned down due to a faulty generator installation.
This is real.
It’s devastating, and it is a serious reminder that generator installations are not something to take lightly, cut corners on, or hand off to whoever offers the lowest price. A generator can be an incredible investment—providing comfort, security, and power when your family needs it most—but only when it is properly designed, permitted, installed, and inspected.
One important thing our community needs to understand: **being a generator dealer does not automatically make someone a licensed electrical contractor.**
A company may sell generators, promote generators, or even be authorized to distribute a particular brand. That does not necessarily mean they are legally qualified, licensed, insured, or properly trained to perform the electrical work required to connect that generator safely to your home.
That distinction can be deceiving, especially for homeowners who assume that buying from a generator dealer means the installation is automatically covered by qualified electrical professionals. It is not always the case. This is exactly why we put so much emphasis on education. We do not want anyone to be hurt, lose their home, or face a preventable financial disaster because they were not given the full picture before making a decision.
Before hiring anyone, ask direct questions:
- Are you a properly licensed **electrical contractor** in this state and locality?
- Can you provide your active license number so I can verify it?
- Do you carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance?
- Will you obtain all required permits and schedule the necessary inspections?
- Who, specifically, is performing the electrical work?
- Do you have experience with generator transfer switches, load calculations, grounding, bonding, utility connections, and applicable electrical codes?
- Will I receive a written contract, scope of work, warranty, and proof of insurance?
It is also important to understand the insurance risk. If a fire, electrical failure, injury, or other major loss occurs, your homeowners insurance company will investigate. If they determine that the work was completed by someone who was not properly licensed, insured, permitted, or qualified for the job, it may complicate the claim—and in some situations, a claim could be denied.
Even if coverage is available, homeowners may still be left dealing with deductibles, increased premiums, difficult claims processes, and the stress of rebuilding. When work is performed by a legitimate, licensed electrical contractor, there is usually an accountable professional and an insured business behind the work. In many cases, that means you may be able to pursue the contractor’s insurance or hold the responsible party accountable rather than relying solely on your own homeowners policy.
No one should have to learn these lessons after a tragedy.
A generator installation involves much more than placing a unit outside and running a few wires. It must be installed according to electrical code, manufacturer requirements, local regulations, fuel and clearance rules, and the specific needs of the home. Improper wiring, undersized equipment, missing safety devices, poor grounding, incorrect transfer equipment, or unpermitted work can create serious fire, shock, carbon monoxide, and backfeed hazards.
We stress this because we care about safety—not because we want to scare anyone. We want homeowners to be informed, protected, and confident in the people they hire.
Please do your research. Verify licenses. Confirm insurance. Make sure permits are pulled. And most importantly, make sure your generator is installed by an actual licensed electrical contractor—not simply an electrician, not a general contractor, and not someone who sells generators without the proper electrical contracting credentials.
Your family’s safety, your home, and your peace of mind are worth far more than cutting corners.
Be safe friends. 🖤
