When the power goes out, your house shouldn't notice.
A whole-home standby generator starts itself within seconds of an outage — furnace, well pump, freezer, medical equipment, all still running. RD Electric sizes, installs, and services Generac systems across the LC Valley.
Built for how the valley loses power
Outages here don't schedule themselves politely. Winter ice takes down lines, summer heat and fire season stress the grid, and a windstorm off the Palouse can leave whole neighborhoods dark. If your home runs on a well pump, that's no water the moment the power drops. If you heat with a pellet stove or furnace, no heat either.
A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home, connected to your natural gas or propane supply, and wired into your panel through an automatic transfer switch. When utility power fails, it starts on its own — usually before your clocks reset — and shuts itself off when power returns. No cords, no fuel cans, no going outside in the storm.
The transfer switch ties directly into your electrical panel, so we check the panel on every site visit. Older 100-amp or fused panels sometimes need an electrical panel upgrade first — easiest to do while the panel's already open for the generator work.
DEALER
What "Generac Authorized Dealer" means for you
We're factory-trained on Generac equipment, we install to Generac's spec so your warranty holds, and we service what we sell — locally. If something needs attention in year five, you call us, not a national hotline.
What size do you actually need?
This is the first question on every site visit. The honest answer: it depends on what you want to keep running. Here's the shape of it.
Keep the critical circuits alive
Well pump, furnace, refrigerator, freezer, some lights and outlets. The most affordable path to never losing water or heat.
The house doesn't notice the outage
Everything runs — HVAC included. The most popular choice for valley homes. Sized to your panel and actual load, not a guess.
Big footprint, shop, or outbuildings
Larger homes, detached shops, and small commercial. We calculate the real load and spec accordingly.
How an install works
From first call to first outage you don't notice:
Free site visit & sizing
We look at your panel, your fuel supply, and what you want protected. No obligation.
Written quote — the whole picture
Generator, transfer switch, pad, gas work, permits, labor. One number in writing, no surprises later.
Install day
Our licensed electricians set the unit, wire the transfer switch, coordinate the gas connection, and test everything under load. Most residential installs are done in a day or two on site.
Walkthrough & ongoing service
We show you how it self-tests, what the app tells you, and we're here for annual maintenance so it starts when it matters.
Installed by our electricians, not a subcontractor.
Every generator we sell is installed by RD Electric journeymen — the same licensed crew that does panel work across the valley every week. The transfer switch is the heart of the install, and it's wired by people who do this for a living.
Generator questions we get every week
How much does a whole-home generator cost?
It depends on the size of the unit, your panel, and how far the gas and electrical runs are — which is why we do a free site visit and put the complete price in writing before any work starts. The quote covers the generator, transfer switch, pad, gas connection, permits, and labor as one number.
Natural gas or propane?
Either works. If your home has natural gas service, that's usually the simplest path — unlimited runtime, nothing to refill. Rural properties on propane are just as common here; we size the connection to your existing tank and usage.
How fast does it kick on when the power goes out?
Typically within about 10 seconds of the outage. The automatic transfer switch senses the loss, starts the generator, and moves your home's load over — then reverses the whole process when utility power comes back.
Do you handle the permits?
Yes. We pull the electrical permits and coordinate inspections as part of the install, on both the Idaho and Washington sides of the valley.
Does it need maintenance?
Like any engine, yes — an annual service (oil, filters, battery, test under load) keeps it ready and keeps the warranty intact. We service the systems we install, so it's one call.
Can it power my well pump?
Yes, and for a lot of rural customers that's the whole reason to buy one. Well pumps have a high starting load, so sizing matters — it's one of the first things we check on the site visit.
Where we install
RD Electric installs and services standby generators across the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and the surrounding area:
Contact
Need Electrical Services Help?
Don't hesitate to call us on any Electrical Service, our team awaits your call.