Backup Power Options for SF & Peninsula Outages
From storm outages to public-safety power shutoffs, there are a few ways to keep the essentials running. Here's how standby generators and battery backup compare.
- Author
- By Cabrillo Plumbing, Heating & Air
- Last updated
- Updated June 2026
- Reading time
- 4 min read
When the power goes out, your options fall into two camps: a standby generator (usually natural-gas or propane, wired to a transfer switch so it starts automatically) or a battery backup system (often paired with solar). A generator can run larger loads for longer as long as it has fuel; a battery is quiet, low-maintenance, and clean but is sized to a budget of stored energy. The right choice depends on which circuits you need to protect, your fuel or solar situation, and whether you want whole-home or just-the-essentials coverage.
What to know
- Standby generators start automatically via a transfer switch and run on natural gas or propane.
- Battery backup (often with solar) is quiet and low-maintenance but sized to stored capacity.
- Decide what must stay on — fridge, medical equipment, heat — to size the system honestly.
- Both require a licensed electrician and proper permitting; we handle the panel and transfer-switch work.
Full guide coming soon
This is the short version. A deeper, fully-cited guide for San Francisco & Peninsula homeowners is on the way. Need an answer now? Ask our team or call (415) 843-2900.
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