Texas Backup Power Guides

The calculators on this site give you numbers. These guides explain the reasoning behind them — what actually happened to the grid, what a generator really costs to own, and how to avoid the mistakes that cost people money.

• Winter Storm Uri: What Actually Happened to the Texas Grid

  February 2021's grid failure in plain terms — why it happened, why Texas couldn't just import power from neighboring states, and what's actually changed since.

• What Size Generator Do You Actually Need for Your Texas Home?

  A quick-reference table by home size, plus the two mistakes that lead people to buy the wrong size — oversizing (paying for capacity you'll never use) and undersizing (a unit that trips under AC startup load).

• Preparing Your Texas Home for Summer Grid Strain

  Texas summer peak demand keeps setting records. Here's what a conservation appeal actually means, why summer risk is different from a Uri-style event, and how to be ready without overreacting.

• Portable vs. Standby Generators: Which Does Your Home Actually Need?

  Not the same category. A $600 portable and a $12,000 standby system solve different problems — here's how to tell which one actually fits your situation.

• How Long Can a Standby Generator Actually Run During an Outage?

  Natural gas: as long as the outage lasts. Propane: until the tank runs dry, which depends on tank size and how hard the unit is working. The real math, with worked examples.

• Generator Permits in Texas: What to Expect, City by City

  Every major Texas city requires permits for a standby generator install. Here's the process that's common across DFW, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio — and why your installer should handle it, not you.

• Generator Maintenance: What It Actually Costs to Keep One Running

  The installed price isn't the last check you'll write. Annual service, parts, and what happens if you skip maintenance and then actually need it.