Backup Power in
Home battery backup and standby generators for College Hill, Wayland Square, the Stimson Avenue district and the rest of Providence's East Side.
Get a Savant QuoteCollege Hill, on the East Side, holds the most distinguished historic architecture in Providence, according to the city's historic district commission, on dense lots under mature street trees. That combination shapes backup power here more than storm size does.
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 Providence East Side
In the November 7, 2012 nor'easter, a week after Sandy, outages hit Benefit Street around 5:30 p.m. and Williams and Hope streets shortly before 6, and about 200 Providence residences were affected by 8:30 that night.
When Irene came through in August 2011, damage on College Hill was mostly trees, a few Brown buildings switched to emergency generators, and many people lost power at home. The February 2013 blizzard dropped more than two feet of snow on Rhode Island, and National Grid estimated more than 180,000 customers lost power.
Who supplies the power
Rhode Island Energy serves Providence. The city's 2019 hazard plan, written before the 2022 sale, named National Grid as the distribution company. Solar and battery interconnection goes to Rhode Island Energy.
Which system fits a Providence East Side home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
RoseWater Energy
For a large house on Blackstone Boulevard or College Hill with lighting control, AV and networking, a RoseWater HUB carries the house with zero transfer time and conditions the power every day.
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
A standby generator works where a side or rear yard spot clears windows and doors on both houses. On many East Side lots that spot is hard to find.
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 Providence East Side
The Providence Historic District Commission's guidelines say HVAC equipment should go inside the building wherever possible, and if outside, in side or rear yards or on flat roofs out of view, screened with fencing or landscaping and within the city's residential noise limits. A generator would almost certainly be treated the same way.
Inside the house, a Savant Power Storage cabinet or a RoseWater HUB in the basement avoids the question entirely, as long as the basement stays dry.
Permits in Providence East Side
Properties in a Providence local historic district cannot be altered without the Providence Historic District Commission's review and approval. On the East Side that includes College Hill, about 945 properties, and Stimson Avenue, about 32. The commission's staff reviews mechanical and electrical equipment in-house, without a public hearing.
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 Providence East Side
Do we need a public hearing for backup equipment on College Hill?
Do we need a public hearing for backup equipment on College Hill?
Mechanical and electrical equipment is reviewed by the commission's staff without a hearing. Equipment inside the house, like a battery in the basement, is the easiest to approve.
Is there room for a generator on an East Side lot?
Is there room for a generator on an East Side lot?
Sometimes. It has to sit in a side or rear yard, screened, and clear of windows and doors on your house and the neighbor's. Where that does not fit, a battery system is the better answer.
What does Savant Power cost for an East Side house?
What does Savant Power cost for an East Side house?
Plan on $2,000 to $10,000 for the Savant Power Modules. Savant batteries add $10,000 to more than $100,000, depending on how much of the house you back up. We quote after a site visit.
Ready to plan backup power in Providence East Side?
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.