Generator Transfer Switches in Sacramento

Why do I need a transfer switch for a generator?

To stop backfeeding. SMUD warns that a generator that isn't properly installed can send electricity back through dead power lines and electrocute you or a utility worker, and that the law holds the generator owner responsible for injuries or damage. PG&E says never to connect a generator to another power source, including its lines.

SMUD requires an approved transfer switch for a permanent standby generator and says your city or county building department must inspect any permanently installed generator. PG&E asks customers to have wiring changes inspected and to let PG&E know about the backup system once it's installed.

Transfer switch, interlock, or extension cords?

There are safe ways to use a generator and one common unsafe one:

• Extension cords: plug a few appliances straight into a portable generator. No electrician needed, but PG&E says to use correctly sized cords and never run them under rugs.
• Manual transfer switch: a small panel with selected circuits that you switch over to generator power. A good fit for portable generators.
• Interlock kit: a sliding plate on your main panel that lets only the generator breaker or the main breaker be on at one time.
• Automatic transfer switch: starts a standby generator and switches over by itself when power fails.
• Unsafe: plugging a generator into a wall or dryer outlet. SMUD doesn't recommend connecting a generator to home wiring this way, because one missed step can backfeed the grid.

Do PG&E power shutoffs affect Sacramento-area homes?

Mostly in the foothills. PG&E plans Public Safety Power Shutoffs when low humidity, high winds, and dry vegetation raise wildfire risk, and homes in its Tier 2 and Tier 3 fire-risk areas are more likely to be affected. PG&E serves foothill communities such as Auburn, Placerville, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Loomis, and Granite Bay.

SMUD says Sacramento County is not designated as a high fire threat area and that it would shut off power only as a last resort. Its biggest wildfire risk is around its hydroelectric project in El Dorado County.

PG&E's Backup Power Transfer Meter program, which gives eligible high-fire-risk customers a free meter for connecting a compatible generator, was fully subscribed for 2026. Its Generator and Battery Rebate, up to $300 plus up to $200 more for CARE or FERA customers in Tier 2 or 3 areas, had about 125 rebates left as of October 15, 2026.

How do I run a generator safely?

Carbon monoxide is the biggest generator danger. The CPSC says nearly 100 people die in the U.S. each year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by portable generators.

• Run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors and windows.
• Never run it in a garage. The CPSC says opening doors or windows won't vent enough carbon monoxide.
• Install battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarms on each level and outside sleeping areas.
• Keep the load within the generator's rating, and store fuel outside the house, as PG&E advises.

Do I need a permit for a transfer switch?

Yes. A transfer switch or interlock changes your home's wiring, so it needs an electrical permit and an inspection from your city or county building department. Both SMUD and PG&E point customers to the local building department for that inspection. A licensed C-10 contractor should pull the permit.

How much does a generator transfer switch cost?

National guides, not Sacramento prices: Angi puts a manual transfer switch at $400 to $1,300 installed and an automatic switch at $600 to $2,500, with an average project around $1,450 (2026), plus $50 to $350 for the permit. HomeGuide lists interlock kits at $400 to $850 installed. Fixr's 2022 estimate for a whole-house standby generator's transfer switch was $2,700 to $3,700, including wiring and labor.

Frequently asked questions

Available across the Sacramento area

• Sacramento
• Elk Grove
• Roseville
• Folsom
• Citrus Heights
• Rancho Cordova
• Rocklin
• Lincoln
• Davis
• West Sacramento
• Woodland
• El Dorado Hills
• Carmichael
• Fair Oaks
• Orangevale
• Arden-Arcade
• Antelope
• North Highlands
• Granite Bay
• Gold River
• Rio Linda
• Galt
• Auburn
• Cameron Park
• Placerville
• Loomis