Backup Power in
Whole-home battery backup and standby generators for Amherst, New Hampshire, including the Amherst Village Historic District.
Build Your Power PlanIn the December 2008 ice storm, most of Amherst lost its phones and power, including the village, and the town declared a town-wide emergency and looked for a regional shelter. Schools in Amherst, Milford and Mont Vernon closed for six days.
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 Amherst
On October 29, 2015, Eversource said a tree limb fell on a wire during trimming and knocked out more than 700 Amherst customers at about 11:45 a.m., part of about 1,000 across Amherst, Merrimack, Bedford and Manchester.
In the April 4, 2024 nor'easter, Amherst was among the towns where Eversource reported 800 to 1,500 customers without power.
Who supplies the power
Eversource serves Amherst, which is not on the Co-op, Liberty or Unitil lists. In 2008, when the utility was still PSNH, it reported 300,000 of its 500,000 customers without electricity during the ice storm.
Which system fits a Amherst home?
We install all three, so we can recommend the one that suits the house and the budget.
Savant Power
Savant Power keeps the equipment out of sight in the village historic district, with relay modules in the existing panel and Savant Power Storage in a heated basement.
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 the simplest way to get through a six-day outage, and it suits most Amherst homes 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 Amherst
The Souhegan River runs through the southern part of town and Baboosic Lake sits on the eastern border. On those lots, keep a generator pad and any battery above the flood level, and near the lake, remember that the state's shoreland rules cover the land within 250 feet of the water.
Most Amherst houses are single-family homes, about 3,930 of 4,584 units, with room for equipment in the basement or garage and a pad in the yard.
Permits in Amherst
Amherst's Village Historic District application has its own section for utilities and outdoor mechanical equipment. It asks for the location relative to other structures and property lines, the size, color and mounting of the equipment, and how its appearance will be minimized. A generator or outdoor cabinet in the village goes through that 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 Amherst
Our house is in the village historic district. What does the town need?
Our house is in the village historic district. What does the town need?
The Historic District Commission application's section on outdoor mechanical equipment: where it goes relative to the house and property lines, its size, color and mounting, and how it will be screened or minimized. We prepare those details with you.
Could a HUB carry us through another 2008 ice storm?
Could a HUB carry us through another 2008 ice storm?
Not by itself for six days. A HUB carries the house through the start of the outage with no gap and conditions the power, and a generator behind it keeps the batteries charged for as long as the outage lasts.
We live on Baboosic Lake. Do shoreland rules apply?
We live on Baboosic Lake. Do shoreland rules apply?
Within 250 feet of the lake, New Hampshire's shoreland law requires a state permit for construction or excavation. A generator pad there may need one, which we plan for.
Ready to plan backup power in Amherst?
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.