Backup Power in
Standby generators and home battery backup for Needham, from Needham Heights and the town center to the neighborhoods near the Charles.
Get a Generator QuoteThe Charles River runs around three sides of Needham, and the town has many ponds, streams and wetlands. Most outages here come from summer storms and wind, but houses near the water also have flooding to plan around.
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 Needham
A thunderstorm on July 31, 2019 left 668 homes without power at 4:30 p.m., about 5 percent of Eversource's customers in town, according to MEMA.
High winds on November 3, 2018 knocked out 259 of the town's 12,871 Eversource customers. The town's own hazard plan calls for a permanent generator at the Senior Center at the Heights and generators at sewer pump stations.
Who supplies the power
Eversource serves Needham, with about 12,871 customers in town in 2018. Eversource is also the utility to file with for a solar and battery system.
Which system fits a Needham home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
RoseWater Energy
For a Needham house where a home office and a full network matter more than the length of the outage, a RoseWater HUB keeps them on through the July thunderstorms with zero transfer time.
Whole-home battery backup with zero transfer time and power conditioning, for large homes where nothing can blink. Most projects run $125,000 to $1,000,000.
Savant Power
Savant Power is the quieter option for a Needham house near the river, with relay modules in the panel and Savant Power Storage in the garage above any flood level.
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.
Where the equipment goes in Needham
On a lot near the Charles or one of Needham's wetlands, keep the generator pad above the flood level and the transfer switch out of a basement that takes water. Elsewhere, most Needham lots have a side yard that clears windows and doors.
A battery cabinet or HUB fits in most Needham garages or dry basements.
Permits in Needham
Needham has two historic districts, McIntosh Corner and Town Hall. We have not found a Needham permit page specific to generators. The licensed electrician and gas fitter pull the permits.
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 Needham
We are near the Charles. Can we put a generator in the side yard?
We are near the Charles. Can we put a generator in the side yard?
Usually, as long as the pad sits above the flood level and the unit clears windows and doors. We check the flood zone for your lot before quoting.
How big a generator does a Needham house need?
How big a generator does a Needham house need?
We size it from a load calculation: heating, air conditioning, kitchen, and anything else you want running. Some homes back up everything and some just the essentials.
How soon can you come out?
How soon can you come out?
We reply within one business day. Our shop is in Norwood, a short drive away, so a Needham site visit is quick to arrange.
Needham's own plan calls for generators at town buildings. Should a house have one too?
Needham's own plan calls for generators at town buildings. Should a house have one too?
The town is planning backup for the Senior Center and its sewer pump stations because it cannot afford to lose them. A house with a sump pump, a home office or older relatives has the same kind of reason, at a smaller scale.
Ready to plan backup power in Needham?
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.