Backup Power in
Whole-home battery backup and standby generators for Brookline, from Cottage Farm and Pill Hill to Chestnut Hill and the Olmsted-Richardson district.
Build Your Power PlanBrookline is one of the few towns whose historic district guidelines name our equipment outright. The 2025 guidelines list generators, propane tanks and battery banks among the things the Preservation Commission reviews when they can be seen from the street.
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 Brookline
At about 1:30 a.m. on April 20, 2023, more than 1,500 Eversource customers in Boston and Brookline lost power, mostly near Cleveland Circle, and the burned equipment had to be replaced.
In the February 5, 2016 snowstorm, Eversource reported 680 Brookline customers without power at 6 p.m.
Who supplies the power
Eversource serves Brookline. In April 2023, Eversource traced an overnight outage near Cleveland Circle to overgrown vegetation touching its equipment near Corey and Windsor roads. Interconnection for a solar and battery system goes through Eversource.
Which system fits a Brookline home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
Savant Power
Savant Power suits a Brookline house in a historic district, with Savant Power Storage in the basement where the Preservation Commission does not need to see 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 works where there is a rear yard spot that meets the guidelines and the manufacturer's clearances. On many Brookline lots that spot is hard to find.
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 Brookline
The guidelines ask that generators, propane tanks and battery banks go to the rear or where they are minimally visible. They also ask homeowners to contact the town's preservation planners before filing an electrical permit when a project needs a larger electrical panel, so the planners can review where the equipment goes.
Inside the house, a HUB or a Savant Power Storage cabinet in a basement or garage avoids most of that review.
Permits in Brookline
Brookline has nine local historic districts: Cottage Farm, Pill Hill, Graffam-McKay, Chestnut Hill North, Harvard Avenue, Lawrence, Wild-Sargent, Crowninshield and Olmsted-Richardson. Visible generators, propane tanks and battery banks go to the Preservation Commission, and air conditioning condensers should not go on the front elevation. Some compliant work can be approved by letter in ten days, and the rest goes to a hearing.
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 Brookline
Does Brookline review battery systems in historic districts?
Does Brookline review battery systems in historic districts?
Yes, when they can be seen from the street. The 2025 guidelines name battery banks along with generators and propane tanks. A battery in the basement or garage is not visible and avoids that review.
Do we need to talk to the town before upgrading our panel?
Do we need to talk to the town before upgrading our panel?
In a historic district, the guidelines ask you to contact the preservation planners before filing the electrical permit if the project needs a larger panel. We build that step into the schedule.
What drives the price of a RoseWater system in Brookline?
What drives the price of a RoseWater system in Brookline?
RoseWater systems range from $125,000 to $1,000,000. Where a Brookline house lands depends on its service size and what you want protected. The Power Plan is the first step.
Ready to plan backup power in Brookline?
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.