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Home generator and transfer switch
Ice storms, high winds, long rural outages: a generator with a transfer switch keeps your heating, pump and fridge running — safely.
Two solutions, one requirement: safety
In the wooded areas of Portneuf, Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval or Charlevoix, a Hydro-Québec outage can last hours, sometimes days. Without power, heating, the well pump, the sump pump and freezers all stop. A properly installed generator turns an emergency into a mere inconvenience.
Automatic standby generator
Installed outside on a pad and fed by propane or natural gas, it starts on its own within seconds of an outage thanks to an automatic transfer switch. It's the choice for primary residences, rental cottages and small businesses that can't afford downtime.
Portable generator and manual transfer panel
More economical, it plugs into a dedicated outdoor inlet wired to a manual transfer panel that feeds the essential circuits chosen with you. The transfer physically isolates the house from the grid — mandatory to protect Hydro-Québec lineworkers and your appliances. We never do improvised "male-to-male" cord hookups: dangerous and illegal.
Nuvem sizes the generator to your priority loads (heating, pump, refrigeration, lighting, outlets), installs the transfer panel, the inlet and the grounding, then tests the changeover with you.
What's included
A complete, documented service
- Essential-load calculation and power sizing
- Manual or automatic transfer panel
- Outdoor power inlet and dedicated wiring
- Pad and propane/gas hookup by a certified partner if required
- Changeover test and user training
- Annual maintenance and check on request
Our approach
From the first call to delivery
Needs analysis
Which circuits must stay live? Heating, pump, refrigeration…
Equipment choice
Portable or automatic, power rating, safe location.
Installation
Transfer panel, inlet, grounding, outdoor pad.
Live test
Simulated outage and changeover with you.
FAQ
What clients ask us
What generator size do I need?
For a typical home's essentials (furnace or heat pump, pump, fridge, lighting), 7 to 12 kW is common. Full electric heating needs more; we calculate it with you.
Can I plug a generator straight into my panel?
Never without a transfer panel or switch. Back-feeding the grid endangers Hydro-Québec lineworkers and can destroy your appliances when power returns.
Automatic or portable?
Automatic if you're often away, rent out the cottage or have medical needs; portable if you're on site and want to limit the investment.
Do I need a permit?
Electrical work is declared to the RBQ by Nuvem. Propane tank installation follows its own rules; we coordinate with a certified installer.
Related services
One contractor, three divisions
Available across the greater Quebec City area: Portneuf, Jacques-Cartier, Côte-de-Beaupré and Charlevoix. See service areas