Backup Power in
Generac and Kohler standby generators and home battery backup for Andover, from the town center to the Shawsheen River neighborhoods.
Get a Generator QuoteAndover has had three very different reasons to think about backup power: storms that took out most of the town, the 2018 gas explosions and a fire department rule on propane that followed.
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 Andover
A storm believed to be a microburst on September 8, 2023 left 72 percent of Andover without power at 3 p.m. the next day, about 10,000 of 14,000 customers, and the fire chief reported 50 trees falling into houses. In the October 2011 snowstorm, 90 percent of Andover households lost power, and in the October 2017 windstorm more than 80 percent of the town's National Grid customers were out at the worst point.
On September 13, 2018, a series of explosions and fires on the Columbia Gas system hit Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. National Grid was told to shut off electricity in the area, and the gas company shut down its low-pressure system, affecting 10,894 customers.
Who supplies the power
National Grid supplies Andover's electricity. Natural gas came from Columbia Gas at the time of the 2018 explosions, and Eversource later bought Columbia Gas's Massachusetts business.
Which system fits a Andover home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
RoseWater Energy
After 2018, some Andover families would rather not depend on gas at all. A RoseWater HUB needs no fuel to carry the house through the start of an outage, and a generator can sit behind it.
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 adds battery backup that needs no fuel at all, which is worth considering in a town that has seen its gas supply shut off, and a hardwired generator can 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.
Where the equipment goes in Andover
In the May 2006 Mother's Day flood, twelve inches of rain fell on Andover in three days, the Shawsheen River rose 8.63 feet above normal, and ten major roads flooded. Houses near the Shawsheen should keep generator pads and batteries above that kind of water.
Andover Fire Rescue's propane rules also shape where a tank can go: cylinders at least 3 feet from windows and other openings, 10 feet from ignition sources such as air conditioning compressors, and, for 125 to 500 gallon tanks, 10 feet from property lines.
Permits in Andover
Andover Fire Rescue prohibits propane for household use where piped natural gas is available from a public utility, and approves temporary propane only where gas service is delayed or unavailable. If your street has natural gas, plan on a natural gas generator. Check with the fire department before choosing propane.
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 Andover
Can we use propane for a generator in Andover?
Can we use propane for a generator in Andover?
Only where piped natural gas is not available. Andover Fire Rescue prohibits household propane where gas is on the street. We check your street and the fire department's rules before quoting a fuel.
After 2018, should we avoid gas altogether?
After 2018, should we avoid gas altogether?
That is a fair question. A battery system needs no fuel, and a natural gas generator depends on the gas supply. Many homes pair the two so the battery covers the first hours and the generator the rest.
We are near the Shawsheen. Where should the equipment go?
We are near the Shawsheen. Where should the equipment go?
Above the flood level the river reached in 2006, on the high side of the lot, with any battery in a garage or upper level instead of the basement.
Ready to plan backup power in Andover?
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.