HURRICANE IRMA: No, You're Not Getting A Generator Anytime Soon

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Whole house generators are fantastic when there is a storm with massive power loss like we are all currently experiencing. But they are not installed instantly.
We have heard from several generator companies that potential customers are unrealsitically asking for generators to be installed today. Now. In minutes.
Here’s reality: It takes at least two months. Permitting in Palm Beach County is a six week process at best. If you are hooking up to a natural gas line, expect another week or two for Florida Public Utilties to do what it has to do. If you are having a propane tank installed, expect several weeks for digging, installation and HOA approval.
The cost? A whole-house Generac generator with load shedding — a computer that determines what is needed while prioritizing air conditioning and refrigeration — should run $11,500 to $12,500. Due to the sudden surge in interest, ordering now means you may be installed by the end of the year.
The good news: despite what many people are posting online, you do NOT need to turn your generator off — at all — if you are hooked up to natural gas. It will require servicing at some point, but that’s handeld by your generator installation company and takes all of an hour. The generator runs around the clock.
The story, of course, is different if you are using a generator that came in a box from Home Depot or Lowes. Those require refueling every several hours, and must be turned off to cool.