Updated October 2026 by Wolf River Electric. We install both home batteries and Generac standby generators.
Ready for the next step? Learn about home battery backup from Wolf River Electric, or get a free quote.
Battery vs generator at a glance
| Home battery | Standby generator | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy source | Stored electricity, recharged by solar or the grid | Natural gas or propane |
| How long it runs | Hours to a day or more on essentials, longer when solar recharges it | Days, as long as fuel lasts |
| Switchover | Almost instant | Starts on its own within seconds |
| Noise and exhaust | Silent, no exhaust | Engine noise and exhaust, installed outside |
| Everyday use | Can store solar for evening use and earn utility program payments | Backup only |
| Maintenance | Very little | Yearly service, oil and filters |
| Incentives | Minnesota battery incentive up to $5,000 (Xcel) or $7,000 (other utilities); Alliant Smart Hours in Wisconsin and Iowa; Illinois home battery rebate of $300 per kWh (ComEd and Ameren) | None at the state level |
How a home battery works in an outage
A battery stores power from your solar panels or the grid. When the grid goes down, it disconnects your home from the grid and keeps your backed-up circuits running, usually so fast your lights barely flicker. A 13.5 to 15 kWh battery running essentials like the furnace blower, refrigerator, lights and internet often lasts through the night and into the next day, and solar recharges it when the sun is out. You can add more batteries for longer runtime or bigger loads.
The batteries we install include Enphase IQ Battery 10C (10 kWh building blocks), FranklinWH aPower S (15 kWh per unit, with a built-in heating blanket) and Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh). See home battery backup.
How a standby generator works in an outage
A home standby generator is permanently installed outside and connected to your natural gas line or a propane tank. When the power goes out, an automatic transfer switch starts it within seconds. Generac air-cooled home standby generators come in sizes from 10 kW to 28 kW, enough to run anything from a few essentials to most of a home. Because it burns fuel, it keeps going through long, multi-day outages. See standby generators and our whole house generator cost guide for installed prices by size.
Winter outages: what matters in the Midwest
- Heat. Even a gas furnace needs electricity for its blower and controls. Both a battery and a generator can keep it running.
- Short days. In December and January, solar recharges a battery much less, and snow can cover panels. For long winter outages, plan more battery capacity or add a generator.
- Cold equipment. Batteries slow their charging when they get cold, so we install them in a garage or another protected spot, and some models heat themselves. Generators need yearly service to start reliably.
- Well and sump pumps. Pumps draw a big surge when they start. We size either system to handle it.
Read our guide to whole-home backup power for a Minnesota winter.
Which is right for you?
- Choose a battery if you have solar or plan to add it, most of your outages last hours rather than days, and you want silent, automatic backup with no fuel.
- Choose a generator if you have multi-day outages, large loads like electric heat or a big well pump, or no solar.
- Consider both if you want a battery for everyday solar storage and quick outages, with a generator for long winter storms.
Battery vs generator questions
Can a battery run my furnace?
Yes. A gas furnace’s blower and controls draw a modest amount of power that a home battery handles well. All-electric heat draws far more and usually needs a generator or several batteries.
How long will a battery last in a power outage?
It depends on what you back up. On essentials, a 13.5 to 15 kWh battery often lasts through the night and into the next day, and longer if solar recharges it.
Do I need solar to get a battery?
No, but solar lets the battery recharge during a long outage. The Minnesota battery incentive applies to batteries paired with solar.
Can a generator and a battery work together?
Yes, with the right equipment. We design combined systems so the battery handles short outages and the generator covers long ones.
Get a backup power quote
We install home batteries and Generac standby generators across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota, and we size either one with a load calculation. Get my free quote
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