Transfer switches
Transfer switches and load management
The switch is what keeps the generator and the utility from ever meeting. We install, replace and upgrade automatic and manual transfer switches, plus load management that lets a smaller generator run a bigger house.
At a glance
Never both
- ATS replacement
- From $2,200
- Load module
- From $350
- Power off
- 2 to 4 h
- Meter pull
- We arrange
How it works
A transfer switch connects your house to either the utility or the generator, never both. That matters for you and for line crews: a generator fed backwards into the street can injure someone working on the lines.
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) watches the utility power. When it drops, it signals the generator to start and moves the house over. A service-rated ATS can sit between the meter and your panel and carry the whole house.
Load management modules pause one heavy load, like a central air system or an electric dryer, when the generator is near its limit, then let it run again when there is room. It is often the difference between a 22 kW and a 26 kW generator.
Price book
Planning ranges for typical homes in our area, before tax. The firm price is written after we have seen the site, and it includes the permit as its own line.
| Job | Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Automatic transfer switch replacement 200 A, service-rated, existing generator | $2,200 to $3,600 |
| Load management module One heavy load per module | $350 to $650 each |
| Second switch for a 400 A service Two 200 A panels, one generator | $2,400 to $3,800 |
| Manual transfer switch 6 to 10 circuits, for a portable generator | $1,100 to $1,900 |
| Switch inspection and repair Contactor, controller or wiring faults | $450 to $1,400 |
Where quotes go above the range. Switch work usually needs the utility to pull the meter, which adds scheduling time but not cost in most towns we serve. Older panels sometimes need work before a new switch can go in; we look first and tell you.
How it goes
- 1 Panel and switch check We read the service, the panel and the existing switch.
- 2 Written quote Switch, modules, permit and meter pull on one page.
- 3 Install Half a day to a day. Power off for two to four hours.
- 4 Transfer test We pull the utility and watch the house move over.
Questions about transfer switches
Can I skip the transfer switch and use a cord?
Not safely or legally. Plugging a generator into a dryer outlet can send power back into the street and injure a line worker, and it can start a fire in your walls. An inlet with an interlock is the low-cost legal way to do it.
Other services
Site visits are free
Ready to talk about transfer switches?
Send the details in five short steps and we will call to book a visit, or start with the sizing calculator for an estimate.