Be Prepared for the Next Outage
REC invests every day in reliability, but when outages happen, preparation makes all the difference. Backup generators can help keep your home connected, comfortable and prepared when electric service is interrupted.
Explore whole-home standby and portable-generator solutions, professional installation and flexible financing options through REC Electrician Services.
Automatic Restoration
No manual setup and no guesswork. Power automatically returns when an outage interrupts electric service.
End-to-End Service
REC helps coordinate installation, permits, commissioning, maintenance and ongoing support from start to finish.
Whole-Home Coverage
Keep essential appliances, heating, cooling and critical systems running until electric service returns.
How It Works
We Visit Your Home
REC evaluates your needs and provides a clear, customized proposal with no guesswork.
We Install It
Your generator is installed safely, professionally and in accordance with applicable code requirements.
We Hook It Up
The electrical and fuel connections are completed from start to finish by professionals you can trust.
We Test It All
REC tests the system, completes commissioning and provides support if questions arise.
Compare Your Options
Portable vs. Whole-Home Standby
| Portable Generators | Automatic Home Standby | |
|---|---|---|
| Uses | Job sites, tailgating, camping and other recreational or temporary uses | Permanently installed at the home to power selected circuits or household functions |
| Starting | The user starts and connects the generator | Starts automatically when utility power is lost |
| Refueling | Typically every 6–12 hours, depending on the fuel tank and electrical load | No manual refueling when connected to natural gas; propane availability depends on tank capacity |
| Capacity | Typically powers selected appliances or equipment | Can power selected circuits or the entire home, depending on system size |
Looking for Something More Portable?
Portable generators offer flexible backup power for smaller budgets and temporary needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generac generators run using the existing natural gas or liquid propane fuel supply in your home, so manually refilling the generator is not necessary.
The type of generator you buy should depend on when, where and how you would like to use it. See the comparison chart for a brief overview of home and portable generators.
- Whole Home generators are safer and cheaper to run because they use natural gas and propane from the home rather than gasoline inputs.
- Whole Home generators start automatically within seconds after power is lost, saving time and effort in setting up a portable generator and extension cables. This also means you will not need to be at home in order to turn on or turn off your generator.
The permanent whole home generators offered by Generac run automatically when a power outage is detected and will continue to operate until power from the utility is restored. Some models can be monitored remotely from a smartphone, computer, or tablet using Mobile Link.
Some models are dual fuel where you can utilize natural gas, propane or gasoline. The number of electrical appliances you can power with your generator will be determined by the size of the generator you purchase. For example, a 16kW generator will be able to power more appliances than a 10kW generator.
You should contact Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to schedule a generator installation.