What size generator do I need to power my whole house in New Brunswick during a storm?

Sizing a Whole-House Generator for New Brunswick Homes

Choosing the right generator size depends on your home's total electrical load, which varies significantly based on your heating system, appliances, and whether you have electric hot water.

Calculating Your Load

Start by listing every circuit you want powered during an outage. A typical New Brunswick home with 2,000 square feet might need:

• Electric furnace or heat pump: 5,000–15,000 watts
• Well pump: 1,000–2,000 watts (starting surge up to 3x)
• Refrigerator/freezer: 600–800 watts
• Lights and electronics: 1,500–2,000 watts
• Electric hot water tank: 4,500 watts
• Sump pump: 800–1,500 watts

For most homes in Moncton, Fredericton, or Saint John, a 22 kW whole-house standby generator covers the full load comfortably. If you heat with oil or propane and don't have an electric water heater, a 16 kW unit may be sufficient.

Generator Types and Costs in NB

Portable generators (3,000–12,000 watts) cost $800–$3,000 and can run essential circuits through a manual transfer switch. They require manual startup and refuelling.

Standby generators (16,000–48,000 watts) cost $6,000–$18,000 installed and start automatically within 10–30 seconds of a power loss. They run on propane or natural gas, which is available in areas served by Enbridge or Liberty Utilities.

Installation Requirements

In New Brunswick, generator installation requires:

A TSANB electrical permit — your licensed electrician pulls this before starting work

An automatic or manual transfer switch installed at the main panel, which prevents dangerous backfeed onto NB Power's lines

Proper setback distances — typically 5 feet from windows, doors, and soffit vents per the Canadian Electrical Code and manufacturer specs

A propane or natural gas connection — propane tank installation requires a separate TSANB gas permit

Installation by a licensed electrician in New Brunswick typically runs $2,500–$5,000 on top of the generator cost, depending on transfer switch complexity and fuel line routing.

NB Power Outage Considerations

New Brunswick experiences extended outages from ice storms, post-tropical storms, and heavy wet snow — the January 2017 ice storm left parts of the province without power for over a week. Rural areas along the Miramichi, in Charlotte County, and northern NB near Bathurst and Campbellton tend to see longer restoration times. If you're in a rural area, sizing up by 20% gives you headroom for unexpected loads.

The Bottom Line

For a typical NB home: 16–22 kW standby generator ($8,000–$20,000 fully installed) or a 7,500+ watt portable ($1,500–$3,000 plus $800–$1,500 for transfer switch installation) for essential circuits only. Get quotes from at least two TSANB-licensed electricians and confirm they'll handle the electrical permit.

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