In short
- ESA requires a transfer device and a notification of work for any generator permanently connected to a home's wiring.
- Hydro Ottawa's guideline for backup generators requires break-before-make switching: the house leaves the grid before the generator takes the load.
- One Ottawa firm's published list puts a manual transfer switch for a portable generator at $300–$800 installed, and a standby system at $5,000–$15,000 installed.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manual transfer switch for a portable generator, installed | $300–$800 | One Ottawa firm’s published list, March 2026 |
| Meter-base transfer device, unit and installation | $1,000–$1,500 | Another Ottawa firm’s published page, updated June 2026 |
| Home generator installation | $3,000–$8,000 | HomeStars, Canada-wide |
| Standby generator, 10 kW, installed | $5,000–$8,000 | One Ottawa firm’s list; essential circuits |
| Standby generator, 22 kW, installed | $10,000–$15,000 | One Ottawa firm’s list; whole house |
| Automatic transfer switch | $800–$2,500 | HomeStars, Canada-wide; a 200 A switch sits at $1,200–$2,500 |
Sources. One Ottawa firm’s published list: Standby vs Portable Generator, Ottawa homeowner guide, published 28.03.2026, seen 29.10.2026. Another Ottawa firm’s published page: Cost of installing a meter-base generator connection in Ottawa, updated 03.06.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Electrician Hourly Rate in Canada: 2026 Guide, HomeStars, How Much Does a Home Generator Cost?, HomeStars, How Much Does a Generator Cost?, Canada-wide, seen 29.10.2026. Rules: ESA, Generator Safety, ESA Flash 25-15-FL, Use of temporary portable generators, ESA, notification fees, ESA, Finding the Right Contractor, Hydro Ottawa ECG0002, Technical guideline for customer owned emergency backup generation, Rev 2, 26.09.2025, TSSA, fuels professionals, Ontario, guide for home renovation businesses, all seen 29.10.2026. Storm: Hydro Ottawa, Major event May 21, 2022, seen 29.10.2026.
Three ways to connect a generator, side by side
Portable generator with an inlet and a manual transfer switch, or an interlocked panel. The generator stands outside and plugs into an inlet box on the wall, wired to a transfer switch or transfer panel beside the main panel that carries the circuits you chose. You start the generator and move the switch. One Ottawa firm’s list: $300–$800 installed.
Portable generator with a meter-base device. The connection sits at the meter, so Hydro Ottawa’s seal and metering rules apply. Another Ottawa firm lists it at $1,000–$1,500 with installation.
Standby generator with an automatic transfer switch. A fixed unit on a pad runs on natural gas or propane and starts on its own when the grid drops. The first Ottawa list puts 16 kW at $7,000–$11,000 installed; HomeStars gives $3,000–$8,000 for a home generator installation across Canada.
Break before make: the rule behind every option
Hydro Ottawa’s guideline for customer backup generators, revised in September 2025, makes the homeowner responsible for keeping generator power off its network. Transfer equipment must disconnect the grid first and connect the generator second, and the reverse when power returns. It must carry a CSA, ULC or UL mark; a solid-state switch is refused as the disconnecting means.
After installation, a qualified electrician tests generator size and type, neutral grounding, utility power at the meter while on generator, and break-before-make operation. Ask for those checks in the quote.
ESA requires a notification of work for a permanent connection, minimum residential fee $88, and strongly recommends a Licensed Electrical Contractor. More on notifications: ESA permits.
Sizing starts with your list
ESA advises knowing your needs before buying, so the unit has the right size and voltage. Put the list in the request: furnace, sump or well pump, fridge, freezer, a medical device, lights. One Ottawa firm notes a portable unit powers selected circuits only, and sizes standby units at 10 kW for essentials and 22 kW for a whole house with electric heat or a car charger.
A full panel or 100 A service can change the plan; see 100 A or 200 A.
What moves the price
- Cable run. HomeStars puts standby wiring at $6–$8 per foot from unit to panel.
- Circuits moved. Each circuit moved to a transfer panel adds labour.
- Fuel. A gas line runs $500–$3,000 on HomeStars and $500–$1,500 on one Ottawa firm’s list.
- Pad and site. HomeStars puts a concrete pad at $300–$500.
- Timing. After-hours and weekend rates run 1.5 to 2 times standard, per HomeStars.
What the written quote should list
It should name the connection type, the switch or panel and its mark, the circuits carried, inlet and cable, the ESA notification and fee, and the testing. For a standby unit, add the pad and the gas line. TSSA says that under Ontario law fuel-fired appliances must be maintained by TSSA-registered contractors, who are required to hire certified gas technicians.
In Ontario, a contract worth more than $50 needs a written agreement. When an estimate is part of the contract, the price cannot run more than 10% above it unless you sign a change.
Ottawa outages: the May 2022 numbers
Hydro Ottawa’s report on the May 21, 2022 derecho counts 180,946 customers interrupted that day and 11,528 more in the days after, 54% of its customers. Ninety percent had power back by May 28, a week later. See Stittsville and storm damage.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Electric Desk takes your request and passes it to one independent local electrical contracting company. That company calls you back, plans the connection, prices it and does the work.
Questions to ask the company
- Which connection do you propose: inlet and transfer switch, interlocked panel, meter-base device or automatic switch, and why?
- Which circuits will the generator carry, and how did you check the generator's size against my list?
- Does the switch or panel carry a CSA, ULC or UL mark, and does it disconnect the grid before connecting the generator?
- Who files the ESA notification, is its fee in the price, and will I receive the Certificate of Acceptance?
- For a gas or propane standby unit, who connects the fuel line and what is their TSSA registration number?
Have this ready for the call
- A photo of the generator's label: running and starting watts, voltage, and the outlets on its control panel
- A photo of the electrical panel with the door open and the circuit directory readable
- Your list of what must run in an outage: furnace, sump pump, well pump, fridge, freezer, a medical device, some lights
- Where the generator would stand outside, and the rough distance from that spot to the panel
- Whether the house has natural gas, a propane tank, or neither
- A photo of the meter on the outside wall
Questions people ask
Why can't the generator feed the house through a regular outlet?
Without a transfer device, generator power can flow out to the street. Hydro Ottawa says backfed power can be transformed to higher voltages on its network, with serious injury or death for anyone working to restore power.
Transfer switch or interlock: what is the difference?
Hydro Ottawa’s guideline accepts an approved double-throw transfer switch, or a generator transfer panel with two approved switches tied by a mechanical interlock so both supplies can never connect at once. The panel and the circuit count decide which fits.
What about a device that mounts at the meter?
Hydro Ottawa’s guideline says a transfer switch installed on the meter base falls under its secondary metering specification for sealing and metering. Another Ottawa firm’s published page lists this type at $1,000–$1,500 with the unit and installation.
Where can the generator run during an outage?
ESA says outdoors in a dry area, away from open doors, windows and vents, and never in the house or garage, where fumes build up to fatal levels. That spot decides where the inlet goes.
What happens when Hydro Ottawa's power comes back?
Under Hydro Ottawa’s guideline, an automatic switch waits at least 10 minutes for the grid to stabilize before moving the house back, with a break of more than 100 milliseconds between sources. With a manual switch, you move the handle back yourself.
