What size whole home generator do I need to keep my house running during a New Brunswick ice storm?

For most New Brunswick homes, a 16 to 22 kW whole-home standby generator will keep everything running during an ice storm, including your furnace or heat pump, refrigerator, lights, well pump (if applicable), and a few convenience circuits. If you have a larger home with electric heat, a hot tub, or multiple high-draw appliances, you may need 24 to 48 kW.

New Brunswick is one of the most ice-storm-prone provinces in Canada. The Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John areas regularly experience multi-day power outages during winter storms, and rural areas can be without power for a week or more. This makes generator installation far more than a luxury here — it's a practical necessity for many homeowners.

How to calculate your needs. Start by listing everything you want to run simultaneously during an outage. A typical breakdown looks like this: furnace blower motor (500-800 watts), refrigerator (200 watts), well pump (1,000-1,500 watts), LED lighting throughout the home (300-500 watts), sump pump (800 watts), and a few outlets for phones and internet equipment (200 watts). That's roughly 3,000 to 3,800 watts of running load — but you need to account for starting surges, which can be 2 to 3 times the running wattage for motors. A 16 kW generator handles this comfortably with room to spare for a heat pump, clothes dryer, or electric range.

The installation requires a transfer switch, which is the critical safety component that prevents your generator from back-feeding electricity into the NB Power grid (which could electrocute a line worker). An automatic transfer switch detects when power goes out, signals the generator to start, and switches your home's load over — all within 10 to 30 seconds. When NB Power restores service, the transfer switch automatically shifts back and shuts down the generator.

TSANB permits are required for generator installation in New Brunswick, as this involves new circuits, a transfer switch, and connection to your main electrical panel. A licensed electrician must perform the installation and pull the permit. The TSANB inspection will verify proper transfer switch installation, correct wire sizing, fuel line clearances (for natural gas or propane units), and safe exhaust ventilation.

Total installed costs in New Brunswick range from $6,000 to $15,000 for a quality automatic standby generator, including the transfer switch, concrete pad, gas connection, electrical work, and TSANB permit. Portable generator setups with a manual transfer switch are a budget option at $2,000 to $4,000, but they require you to be home to start them and refuel them manually during the storm.

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