Backup Power in
Whole-home battery backup and standby generators for Newport's mansions, waterfront houses and Colonial homes on the Point and the Hill.
Build Your Power PlanNewport has seen its electricity fail in hurricanes and its natural gas shut off in the middle of a January cold snap. For the large houses along Bellevue Avenue and Ocean Drive, and the old ones on the Point, the question is how to keep the house running whichever utility lets you down.
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 Newport
Hurricane Bob made landfall over Newport shortly before 2 p.m. on August 19, 1991, with gusts near 100 mph recorded in the city. The National Weather Service says over 60 percent of residents across southeast Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts lost power. Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 left up to half of Rhode Island without power, particularly on Aquidneck Island.
In January 2019 National Grid shut down a large part of its gas system in Newport and Middletown. A state report counted 7,455 customers affected, the governor declared a state of emergency in Newport County, and service was not fully restored until January 30. For a generator choice, that is a reason to think about propane as well as natural gas.
Who supplies the power
Rhode Island Energy, which took over from National Grid's Narragansett Electric in 2022, serves substantially all of Rhode Island, Newport included. It is also the gas utility on Aquidneck Island.
Which system fits a Newport home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
Savant Power
For a Colonial on the Point or a smaller Newport house, Savant Power puts relay modules in the existing panel and Savant Power Storage indoors, which keeps the outside of the house as it is.
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 is a reliable answer for many Newport homes. Given the 2019 gas outage, a propane tank is worth considering where natural gas is the only other choice.
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 Newport
More than half of the homes on the Point are in FEMA flood hazard areas, and the 2026 Aquidneck Island regional hazard plan singles out the Point and Bridge Street area as vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal flooding. In those houses, equipment goes above the flood level and out of the cellar.
The large houses on Bellevue Avenue and Ocean Drive usually have carriage houses, garages or lower-level mechanical rooms with space for a HUB. Several HUB40s can work together for big services, and the 3-Phase systems cover properties with three-phase power.
Permits in Newport
Newport has a local Historic District Commission that reviews exterior changes, and building permits and any zoning relief are separate. The Zoning Board of Review has heard requests to place generators closer to property lines than the setback allows. We have not found a Rhode Island state rule specific to home standby generators, so permits follow Newport's own process.
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 Newport
Do you work in Newport?
Do you work in Newport?
Yes. Newport and coastal Rhode Island are part of our service area. We do the design and project management and coordinate licensed Rhode Island electricians, and RoseWater's technicians commission the system.
Should a Newport generator run on natural gas or propane?
Should a Newport generator run on natural gas or propane?
Natural gas is convenient, but in January 2019 thousands of Aquidneck Island customers lost gas service for days. A propane tank, or a battery system that needs no fuel, avoids that dependence.
Our house is in the historic district. What approvals do we need?
Our house is in the historic district. What approvals do we need?
Anything visible on the outside, such as a generator or an outdoor enclosure, goes to the Historic District Commission. A battery system inside the house usually avoids that. Building permits are separate.
Ready to plan backup power in Newport?
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.