⚡ Long Island Generator GuideGenerator installers · Nassau & Suffolk, NY

How to choose a generator installer in Nassau & Suffolk

A standby generator is a permanent, permitted installation wired into your home — not a commodity purchase. The installer you pick decides whether the system is sized right, permitted properly and serviced when it matters. Choose on licensing, local experience and how thoroughly they assess your home — not on the lowest phone quote.

Licensing in New York

New York has no statewide electrician license. Nassau and Suffolk counties license electricians separately, and several towns add their own registration. Only two companies in this guide publish a license number on their own website — Long Island Electric Co. (Nassau #E-1194A, Suffolk #54221-ME) and HomeOps Electric (#5153ME, county not specified on its website). Every other profile either quotes the company's own claim-only wording or states that no license number is published. Before you sign anything:

  • Ask for the license number and which county it belongs to.
  • Confirm liability insurance — generator work involves gas, concrete and high-voltage wiring.
  • Ask who pulls the permits and handles inspections.
  • Ask who services the system under warranty, and how fast they come in an outage.

Six questions to ask every generator installer

  • "What size (kW) does my home need, and how did you calculate it?" A good installer does a load calculation — not a guess from square footage.
  • "What does the installed price include — permits, inspections, transfer switch, pad and gas line?" The cheapest quote often leaves one of these out.
  • "Which brands do you install and service?" Generac is the most common brand in this guide; Kohler and Briggs & Stratton appear too. Ask who services your brand locally.
  • "Who handles permits and inspections?" Marra Electric includes permits and inspections in its published prices; confirm the same with any installer you compare.
  • "What warranty covers parts and labor, and who honors it?" Get the warranty in writing, including who you call when it fails.
  • "What maintenance does the system need, and what does it cost?" Standby systems need regular exercise runs and service — ask for the plan and the price before you buy.

Red flags

  • A quote given over the phone without a site visit or a load calculation
  • No license number, and no answer when you ask for one
  • Pressure to sign before a site visit
  • A price far below every competitor — usually missing the transfer switch, the permits or the gas work
  • No written scope: kW, brand, switch type, permits and warranty all in one document