The Off-Grid-Ready Home

Solar, multi-day battery, and standby generator - engineered to keep your Connecticut home running for as long as the outage lasts.

The three layers of resilience

Solar

Daily energy production. With strong roof exposure and a properly sized array, the panels alone cover most of your bill in normal operation and recharge the battery during outages.

Multi-day battery

Two to three batteries (27-40 kWh) for true overnight + bad-weather autonomy. Configured for whole-home backup, not just essentials.

Standby generator

Natural-gas or propane standby (22-26 kW) as the deepest backstop. Automatic transfer switch hands off cleanly when battery falls below threshold.

When this configuration is the right call

  • ·You live at the end of a long utility feeder or in a tree-rich area where storm outages are routine.
  • ·You have a well pump, sump pump, or medical equipment that cannot lose power.
  • ·You work from home and outages cost you real income.
  • ·You want energy security without giving up net metering income from grid interconnection.
  • ·You value resilience over the cheapest cost - and want the system designed once, by one contractor.

Off-Grid-Ready FAQs

Common questions from Connecticut homeowners building real resilience.

What does "off-grid-ready" actually mean?
You stay grid-connected - but your home is engineered to keep functioning even if the grid is down for days. The stack is solar for daily energy production, enough battery storage to ride out night and bad weather, plus a generator as a deeper backstop. For most CT homeowners, full off-grid is impractical (and gives up net metering income); off-grid-ready is the sweet spot.
What does an off-grid-ready setup cost in Connecticut?
A typical install - 11-14 kW solar, two to three batteries totaling 27-40 kWh, and a 22-26 kW standby natural-gas generator with automatic transfer switch - runs $75,000 to $115,000 installed in CT. The CT ESS incentive lowers the battery portion, and Smart-E financing can spread the rest into monthly payments. Real numbers depend heavily on home size, fuel source for the generator, and existing electrical infrastructure.
Why do I need a generator if I have solar and battery?
Solar plus battery handles most outages cleanly. The generator earns its place during multi-day stretches of bad weather (winter storms, ice events, hurricane aftermath) when solar production is reduced and battery state of charge is falling. The generator picks up automatically when the battery hits a configurable threshold, so the transition is seamless.
Is off-grid-ready the right choice for me?
It is the right choice if (a) your home suffers frequent or extended outages - rural CT, properties at the end of long feeders, or hilly terrain prone to tree-strike outages, (b) you have specific resilience needs like a home office, well water, medical equipment, or you work from home and cannot lose power, or (c) you simply do not want to think about it. For homes in dense urban areas with reliable utility service, a single battery and no generator is usually plenty.
How long does the install take?
On-site work runs 4 to 7 days across the solar, battery, generator, and electrical components. The full timeline including permits, utility coordination, and inspection runs 8 to 14 weeks. We project-manage the whole sequence.
Does West Electric handle all three trades?
Yes. Solar, battery, generator, and electrical work are all in-house. One licensed CT contractor pulls the permits, files the utility paperwork, and walks every inspection. No coordinating between three subcontractors.