Around here, outages come from trees. One good summer storm, a branch takes down a line, and half the block goes dark. We know because we're usually the crew out restoring service the next morning.
A whole-home standby generator with an automatic transfer switch ends that problem. The power drops, the generator starts on its own, and your sump pump, fridge, and furnace never notice. You don't even have to be home.
Peak Property Electric is a small family crew based in Skokie. Johnny has 18+ years in the trade, and we handle the whole job ourselves: sizing, the electrical work, coordinating the gas line, permits, and the yearly checkup after. Call (773) 987-7677 and we'll come take a look, free.
Is a Standby Generator Worth It for Your House?
- Your block loses power a few times a year, almost always when a storm hits the trees
- You have a sump pump and a finished basement that can't sit through a dead outlet
- Someone in the house works from home or relies on medical equipment
- You travel in winter and worry about frozen pipes while the house sits dark
- You're tired of dragging a portable generator and extension cords out in the rain
- You've already lost a freezer full of food once and don't care to repeat it
What's Included
- A load calculation for your actual house, so the unit is sized right, not oversold
- Standby generator installation with an automatic transfer switch
- Coordination of the gas line work, permits, and the final inspection
- Portable generator inlet and interlock setups, if a standby unit isn't in the budget yet
- Annual maintenance: test run under load, transfer switch check, tightening connections
- Our free once-over of your panel and visible wiring, with photos of anything unsafe
- 24/7 emergency service if the generator ever fails during an outage
⚡ While We're There: The Free Panel Check
Every service call includes a quick look at your panel and visible wiring — no charge, no pressure. Most of the hazards we find (Federal Pacific breakers, double-tapped circuits, overheated connections) turn up during a small job like this one. If we see something, we'll show you a photo of it and explain your options. Learn more about our safety inspections and panel upgrades.
How We Work
Generator jobs follow the same four steps as everything else we do: you call, we look at the house and run the numbers, you get a written quote, and we show up when we said we would. The one difference is scheduling. The gas line and the inspection have to line up with our electrical work, and we manage that calendar so you don't have to chase anyone.
- 1. Free estimate & safety check — we look at the job, give your panel a free once-over, and quote upfront pricing.
- 2. Straightforward plan — scope, materials, timeline, and cost in plain English before we start.
- 3. Professional execution — licensed electricians, clean work, everything to code.
- 4. Final walkthrough — we test everything, clean up, and walk you through what we did.
What Does a Standby Generator Cost in the Skokie Area?
The price mostly comes down to four things. How much of the house you want backed up, whole home or just the essentials. How far the gas line has to run and whether your meter can feed the unit. The shape of your electrical panel, since a lot of older North Shore homes need panel work before a transfer switch can go in. And where the generator can physically sit on your lot.
We walk through all of that at the house and give you a free written quote before any work starts. No surprises on the invoice, ever.
“Amazing experience. I remodeled my home and added recessed lights, car chargers, generators, and more. Ruben upgraded our service from 200 to 400 amps. Everything worked out amazing. Highly recommend!”
— Daniel Slobodyan, Cook County, IL · Google Review