Backup Power in
Whole-home battery backup and standby generators for Manchester-by-the-Sea's shingle-style houses, waterfront estates and village homes.
Build Your Power PlanManchester-by-the-Sea has been a summer place for Boston families since 1845, and its shingle-style houses are some of the best known in the country. Kragsyde, built here in 1885, is often called the high point of the style.
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 Manchester-by-the-Sea
That August 29, 2018 failure left more than 14,000 National Grid customers across those five towns without power at 11:30 a.m. on a day with an excessive heat warning.
Wind does the damage more often. In the October 2021 nor'easter, Manchester police closed Magnolia Avenue, Mill and Forest Streets, the west end of Bennett Street and Forster Road at Jersey Lane for fallen trees, poles and wires. Many of the town's roads run through old woods, and those lines come down first.
Who supplies the power
National Grid serves Manchester-by-the-Sea. In August 2018 a single transmission line failure on National Grid's system dropped Manchester together with Beverly, Hamilton, Essex and Gloucester.
Which system fits a Manchester-by-the-Sea home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
Savant Power
For a village house or a smaller shore cottage, Savant Power puts relay modules in the existing panel with Savant Power Storage, so the circuits you pick stay on.
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
When the roads are blocked by trees for a day or two, a standby generator keeps going as long as the fuel lasts. It pairs with a battery system or stands on its own.
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 Manchester-by-the-Sea
Sawmill Brook runs through downtown to the harbor, and it floods in extreme storms when surge, a tide gate and runoff all meet. A $4.5 million FEMA grant awarded in December 2022 helps replace the Central Street bridge and remove the tide gate. Houses near the harbor and the brook should keep equipment above flood level.
Most of the large houses on the points have a garage or a lower-level mechanical room that can take a HUB. Where they do not, the HUB40 can go outdoors in RoseWater's enclosure, and near salt water we review the spot with RoseWater's engineers.
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 Manchester-by-the-Sea
Will a HUB fit in an older shingle-style house?
Will a HUB fit in an older shingle-style house?
Usually, yes. A garage, carriage house or dry lower-level room works well. We map the panels and subpanels first, since many of these houses have been rewired more than once.
Our house is near the harbor. Is flooding a concern for the equipment?
Our house is near the harbor. Is flooding a concern for the equipment?
It can be. Sawmill Brook and the harbor flood together in big storms, so we keep the HUB and any generator pad above flood level and confirm placement with your electrician and the building department.
Can we start with a generator and add a battery later?
Can we start with a generator and add a battery later?
Yes. A standby generator can later feed a RoseWater or Savant battery system, which then covers the gap and cleans up the generator's power.
Ready to plan backup power in Manchester-by-the-Sea?
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.