Know your generator options and what they cost.
Know your generator options and what they cost.
A standby generator is a significant investment — you should understand your options and typical installed cost before you speak with us. Below you'll find typical price ranges, estimated monthly payments, and answers to the questions homeowners ask us most.
What are my options and how much does it cost?
These are real installed price ranges, not introductory figures that change once we’re in your home. They reflect a standard home with typical power usage — your final number depends on factors like your electrical panel, generator size, actual power draw, fuel line and electric run distances, and site prep specifics.
All Penco generator installations include an automatic transfer switch that detects a power outage, starts the generator within seconds, and automatically transfers your home to generator power. Generators include Generac’s 5-year manufacturer’s warranty, and run on natural gas or propane.
Most Popular
Whole Home
Every circuit, every appliance, every room in the house, the power stays on like nothing happened. No prioritizing, no waiting your turn.
Installed Price Range
$12,000–15,000
As low as $150/month with approved financing
- 18–26 kW Generac Guardian
- Powers your entire home, including central A/C, heat, and major appliances
- Maximum comfort and convenience during an outage
Select Circuits
Keeps the essentials alive — such as the fridge, sump pump, furnace, well pump, and a few outlets and lights. The economical entry point into automatic backup.
Installed Price Range
$9,000–12,000
As low as $115/month with approved financing
- 10–14 kW Generac Guardian
- Powers the essentials, including refrigerator, sump pump, furnace, select lighting, and outlets
- Essential backup protection at a lower investment
Ask About Financing
$0 Money Down Finance Options Available
We offer a variety of financing options for your Generac home standby generator system installation.
Chicagoland's Independent, Family‑Owned Premier Generac Dealer
Penco Electric & Generators has served homeowners and businesses across the Greater Chicago area since 2005. What started as a local electrical contracting business has grown into an award‑winning provider of electrical, standby power, and home technology solutions — without losing the things that built the reputation in the first place.
Most dealers in this market subcontract the electrical work. We don’t — Penco is a licensed electrical contractor and Generac Premier Dealer, so the same team that recommends your system also wires it. That means one point of contact, one warranty, and a crew that’s installed thousands of systems across Chicagoland, northern Indiana, and southern Wisconsin.
Family‑owned from the beginning, Penco has built its reputation on technical expertise, quality workmanship, responsive service, and a commitment to doing the job right — backed by Generac’s 5‑year limited warranty and 24/7/365 support.
78%
of U.S. power outages are weather‑related
$26.8K
average cost of a flooded, unpumped basement
6 hrs–2 wks
how long a single outage can run, from a summer storm to a major grid event
8/10
homeowners who choose Generac choose it again
How a home standby generator works
1
Your power goes out.
2
Your generator senses it and turns on.
Within seconds, the automatic transfer switch detects the outage and starts your generator — whether you’re home or away.
3
It shuts off automatically when power's back.
The transfer switch senses utility power has returned, switches your home back over, and your generator returns to standby.
Some Reasons Our Customers Choose a Generac Standby Generator
With severe storms and unpredictable weather putting more strain on the power grid every year, reliable backup power has never been more important. As Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin’s premier Generac dealer, Mikus is dedicated to providing you with the power solutions you need for any emergency.
- Maintain Comfort and Safety
- Avoid Flooding
- Preserve Food and Medications
- Maintain Internet Connectivity
- Power Electronics and Appliances
- Enjoy Peace of Mind
The Questions People Actually Ask
Most homes are done in a single day: siting the unit, pouring the pad, running the fuel and electrical connections, then simulating an outage to confirm the transfer switch works before we leave.
It depends on your home’s electrical panel, your major appliances, and what you want to keep running during an outage — not just your square footage. We size it during your free estimate so you’re not overpaying for capacity you’ll never use.
You need a licensed electrician. A standby generator ties directly into your home’s electrical system and requires code‑compliant wiring, transfer switch installation, and testing. Penco is a licensed electrical contractor first — the same team that designs your system also does the electrical work, instead of subcontracting it out.
Outside, on a stable, well‑drained pad or gravel base — typically near your gas line and electrical panel to minimize wiring runs. It has to meet clearance requirements from windows, doors, and combustibles, which we confirm as part of your site visit.
Natural gas is preferred when your home already has a line — it burns clean and never needs a refill. If gas isn’t available, propane is a reliable, clean‑burning alternative stored in an outdoor tank.
Yes, typically — and we handle that for you. Your installer takes care of local permitting as part of the project once your site is confirmed.
That’s exactly what the Select Circuits option is for — a smaller, more affordable unit sized to your must‑haves instead of your whole panel.
We offer approved financing plans, including $0‑down options, so you can spread the cost over time instead of paying up front. Your sales rep will walk through exact terms and monthly numbers for your specific system during your estimate.
Yes. The system senses the outage, starts within seconds, and switches your home over automatically — whether you’re upstairs asleep or three states away.
No. Penco offers ongoing maintenance, repair, and remote monitoring plans so your system stays ready. Most generators need a checkup roughly once a year, and we can handle scheduling so you don’t have to think about it.
Two things: we’re a licensed electrical contractor, not a company that subcontracts the electrical work, and we’ve been doing this in Chicagoland since 2005 — not a national franchise that showed up when generators got popular. One point of contact, one warranty, one crew that stands behind the whole job.
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