Portable Generator + Interlock Kit
- Lower upfront cost: the generator itself plus a licensed-electrician-installed interlock kit costs far less than a standby system.
- Manual operation: you have to go outside, set it up, start it, and refuel it every several hours. During a storm or in post-storm heat, not a small ask.
- Fuel is your problem: gasoline, usually, and gas station lines and outages are common in the days right after a major storm.
- Powers what you choose to run: the interlock lets you feed selected circuits through the main panel, not the whole house automatically.
Standby Generator
- Higher upfront cost: see current generator installation pricing, but it includes the automatic transfer switch, permit, and inspection.
- Starts automatically: within seconds of an outage, whether you're home, asleep, or not there at all.
- Runs on propane or natural gas: no manual refueling, and no competing with everyone else for gasoline after a storm.
- Can run for days unattended: the deciding factor for homes that go without power longest, or for owners who aren't always on-site to manage a portable unit.
How to Actually Decide
The honest questions: how long do outages typically run in your neighborhood (multi-day outages after major storms aren't rare in Lee County), is there someone able and willing to manage a portable generator during a storm, and is the home ever unoccupied for stretches, seasonal Southwest Florida homes, in particular, are much better served by a standby system that doesn't need anyone present to work. Budget matters too, but it shouldn't be the only factor; a portable generator that no one can safely operate during an actual hurricane isn't really backup power.
Either way, the electrical side, the interlock kit or the transfer switch, is licensed-electrician work, not a weekend project. A free estimate can quote both options honestly so you're comparing real numbers, not guesses.