Backup Power in
Home battery backup and standby generators for Block Island, from Old Harbor and New Harbor to Corn Neck and the southeast bluffs.
Get a Savant QuoteBlock Island sits about 12 miles off the coast and gets its power over one undersea cable. The island's utility keeps its old diesel plant as a backup, and it has used it, but every repair still waits on the weather and the ferry.
The island has about 1,644 residential customers and a peak demand of 5.6 MW, small enough that one failure can reach most of it.
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 Block Island
On November 18, 2022, the undersea cable lost power at about 2:14 p.m. The utility restored customers from its diesel backup within minutes, but the cable stayed out for 22 hours and 38 minutes and the plant burned 2,492 gallons of diesel. On January 18, 2023, it failed again, this time from a bad splice on the mainland in Narragansett, and was out for 26 hours and 14 minutes.
The eye of Hurricane Bob passed over Block Island at about 1:30 p.m. on August 19, 1991, with sustained winds of 90 mph. Sandy in 2012 damaged 1,800 feet of Corn Neck Road, isolating a business and cutting access to several homes.
Who supplies the power
The Block Island Utility District, doing business as Block Island Power Company, serves the island. It is a quasi-municipal utility that took over from the private Block Island Power Company in 2019, and in 2024 it had 1,644 residential and 346 commercial customers. Battery or solar interconnection goes to the utility district.
Which system fits a Block Island home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
RoseWater Energy
For a large island house with lighting control, AV and networking, a RoseWater HUB keeps the whole house running with zero transfer time and conditions the power when the utility switches between the cable and its diesel backup.
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.
Standby generator
For the long outages, a propane standby generator behind a battery keeps the house going. Propane deliveries and tank placement are part of the plan.
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 Block Island
Corn Neck Road runs across the island's narrow northern neck, and the town's hazard plan says flooding and surge there could cut off the north end. The state regulator also notes that high winds can stop the ferry for days, which keeps the mainland utility from bringing equipment over.
Island houses generally have space for an indoor battery cabinet in a garage or utility room. A generator needs a pad, a propane tank and, in the Old Harbor area, attention to how it looks, since the town's Historic District Commission reviews exterior design.
Permits in Block Island
We have not found a New Shoreham page specific to home generators. The town's Historic District Commission reviews exterior design and site plans, and it has reviewed generator work at a town facility, so visible equipment in a historic district should expect review.
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 Block Island
The island has diesel backup. Why do we need our own system?
The island has diesel backup. Why do we need our own system?
The utility's backup plant covers the cable, and it worked in 2022. It does not help when a line on your road comes down, and every switch between the cable and the plant is a moment your equipment feels. A battery in the house covers both.
How do you handle an install on Block Island?
How do you handle an install on Block Island?
We plan site visits and installation around the ferry, ship equipment ahead, and coordinate a licensed electrician for the connection.
Can a battery system work with solar on Block Island?
Can a battery system work with solar on Block Island?
Yes. Savant Power Storage supports DC-coupled and AC-coupled solar, and the interconnection application goes to the Block Island Utility District.
Ready to plan backup power in Block Island?
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.