An automatic backup generator is a back-up electrical system that will power your home whenever it detects an interruption in service from SPEC. It automatically kicks on within 30 seconds of detecting a power outage, and shuts down as soon as SPEC restores power.  An automatic backup generator will operate whether you are home or away. The system sits outside your home,  just like a central air conditioning unit, and runs on natural gas, liquid propane or diesel.

The size of your generator will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your home and what you would like to power during an outage. We offer a free home assessment to determine the size generator that will work best for your home.

Yes! A backup generator can power everything within your home, so you never have to do without the modern conveniences of electricity. SPEC can help determine what size generator is right for your home to operate the equipment you want or need in an emergency.

You can install a generator to run just what you need or want; not too big and not too small.

During a utility power outage, an automatic backup generator provides many advantages over a portable generator:

1. The American Red Cross recommends permanently installed backup generators as a safer way to provide backup power to a home than a portable generator.
2. With an automatic backup generator properly installed outside, your home is protected from deadly carbon monoxide poisoning that is a much greater risk with portable generators.
3. Running on the home's natural gas or LP fuel supply, it is less expensive to run than gasoline and does not need to be refilled.
4. They start automatically within seconds of a power outage, and eliminate the need to haul a portable generator outside or run extension cords throughout your home.
5. They provide protection 24/7, whether you're home or away, and they turn themselves off when utility power returns, so there is no need to monitor the unit during an outage.

Most generators we sell run on natural gas or propane. However, it is possible to purchase a generator that runs on diesel. Obtaining a fuel source is not included in SPEC's installation of a standby generator.

It depends. Generac generators operate on either natural gas or propane. The cost is a function of how many home appliances, lights, and heating and/ or cooling equipment you have on, as well as the cost of propane or gas at the time.

San Patricio Electric Cooperative will work with you to obtain the best, most cost-effective generator for your home.  Installation costs will vary by system size and other installation considerations, such as how far the generator will be from your breaker box. SPEC offers a free in-home assessment to help you figure out these costs.

We recommend a service check-up and oil change once a year. Schedule a maintenance check just like you would do with your air conditioner or furnace. Your Generac generator will exercise once a week, plus whatever power outages you experience.

Automatic generators are a temporary solution to provide electricity to your home in the event of a SPEC power outage. They can be especially beneficial during lengthy outages caused by hurricanes. .

Generac generators with automatic transfer switches are just that, automatic. It monitors the electricity flow from SPEC, and if it detects a power outage, the backup generator will automatically turn on. When SPEC restores power, the generator will shut down automatically.

Once the generator is professionally installed, there is nothing for the homeowner to do to make it work. Regular maintenance would include having the oil changed once a year by a certified technician.

The generator runs a self-diagnostic test and runs briefly once a week for approximately ten minutes. This test will assure the Generac generator is ready when you need it. You tell us when you want the test to run, and we program it for you.

Generac generators are very quiet. They are average rated at 66 decibels at three meters (about ten feet). That’s about the sound of the A/C running or a phone ringing.

Generac generators are equipped with overload protection. In the rare event of an overload, the generator’s circuit breaker will trip, disconnecting the unit from the load. Simply correct the overload and reset the breaker in the generator. For more information, please consult your owner's manual or contact us.

Since 1959, Generac has been designing and manufacturing backup power generators for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Generac has grown to be the world's largest provider of residential backup generators, selling five times as many generators as all of our competitors combined.

Unlike other engines used in backup power generation, Generac OHVI engines are made specifically for generators. They are engineered to run for the long periods of time required during a severe power outage or on a job site, utilizing the same type of pressurized oil lubrication used to give automobile engines long and trouble-free lives.