After having experienced 4 days without electricity in 2024 as a result of Hurricane Helene, I have long felt that we needed a generator. We have also experienced 4 or 5 small outages that while minor, are extremely inconvenient and cause issues with our smart home componenets. In early August, we contracted with our local Generac Supercenter for a whole house system. While costly, we felt that in the event of a major outage, we wanted the peace of mind that comes with knowing everything in the house (appliances, HVAC, etc.) would be up and running. Our next door neighbors installed a system last year and we put them down as referral (which will provide them with a $200 referral fee from Generac!). Our installation took place on Monday, September 28th. Installation involved running a gas line a location behind our house where the unit is stationed. The second phase of installation took place on Tuesday, September 29th and just involves a test run which went smoothly. My husband, Ken is skeptical as to whether we truly need a generator, but I feel that as coastal residents, we need the security of knowing we won’t be without power in the event of major weather event. The unit is remote testly monthly to ensure smooth operation. I view it as an investment in us and our home.