Backup Power in
Whole-home battery backup and standby generators for Harvard, from the town common to the back roads on private wells.
Build Your Power PlanHarvard's resilience report names the problem directly: power lines here are highly susceptible to falling branches and trees, and the shortage of generators and batteries in town has been known to lead to town-wide failures. Its Board of Health regulates the town's private wells, and in a house on a well, those failures take the water with them.
Boston Backup Power is a division of Boston Automations in Norwood. We design and install RoseWater Energy systems, Savant Power and Generac and Kohler standby generators, and licensed electricians and gas fitters make the connections.
Authorized RoseWater Energy Dealer. Authorized Savant dealer. Authorized Generac and Kohler partner. Updated .
Storms and outages in Harvard
After the December 2008 ice storm, many residents in the southern part of Harvard were without power for over a week, while the north, on the Ayer line, saw only minor loss. On February 25, 2019, wind blew up a transformer in Ayer and left about 2,000 homes dark, which the town called its worst failure since 2008.
In the January 23, 2023 snowstorm, nearly 60 percent of the town lost power, still about 40 percent late the next day. The town's water system was waiting on a backup generator, and the fire station's own generator failed overnight.
Who supplies the power
National Grid serves Harvard, and Hudson Light and Power serves a small number of meters across several nearby towns. The north end of town is fed by a transmission line from Ayer, which is part of why the two halves of town fared so differently in 2008.
Which system fits a Harvard home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
Savant Power
For a Harvard house that wants the well, heat and essentials covered, Savant Power puts relay modules in the panel and Savant Power Storage in a dry space, with a hardwired generator to recharge it.
Relay modules in your existing panel and Savant Power Storage batteries, so you choose which circuits get backup power and see your usage in the Savant app. Modules typically run $2,000 to $10,000, and battery backup $10,000 to more than $100,000.
Standby generator
A standby generator is the most direct answer to the town's own warning about too few generators. It keeps the well and heat going for days.
A Generac or Kohler standby generator on natural gas or propane that starts on its own when the power goes out. Most installs run $7,500 to $20,000.
Where the equipment goes in Harvard
Harvard's Board of Health regulates private wells, and requires the water to be tested when a property with a well is sold. On a well, the backup plan starts with the pump.
The Harvard Center Historic District covers about 125 acres around the common. Larger houses there and around town usually have a barn, garage or lower level that can take a HUB, which needs about 3.5 by 3 feet of floor, 8 feet of height and 36 inches clear in front.
How to start
For a RoseWater system, start with the Power Plan. For Savant Power, use the Savant quote form. For a standby generator, use the generator quote form. If you are not sure which one fits, use the contact form or call (781) 333-8003 and we will talk it through. We reply within one business day.
Questions about backup power in Harvard
We live in south Harvard. Should we plan for a week without power?
We live in south Harvard. Should we plan for a week without power?
The south end was out for over a week after 2008, so it is wise to. That means a generator with enough fuel for several days, with a battery in front of it if you want no gap at all.
Does it matter which part of town we are in?
Does it matter which part of town we are in?
It can. The north end is fed from Ayer and the south end is not, so the two have had very different outages. We take that into account when sizing fuel and storage.
How is a RoseWater system priced for a Harvard house on a well?
How is a RoseWater system priced for a Harvard house on a well?
RoseWater systems run $125,000 to $1,000,000. For a house on a well, the design puts the pump and the heat on the HUB and usually adds a generator behind it, and the Power Plan is the place to start.
Ready to plan backup power in Harvard?
Tell us about the house and what has to stay on. We visit, size the system and give you a written proposal. We reply within one business day.