When the power goes out in Southwest Florida, it rarely picks a convenient time. It goes out in August, with the AC running and a refrigerator full of groceries — or in the middle of hurricane season, for days at a time. A whole-home standby generator ends that problem permanently. Southwest Florida Electric has installed and serviced standby generators across Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples and the surrounding counties since 2010.
Here’s what makes us different from the generator-only outfits: we’re the licensed electrical contractor (EC13004490) doing the whole job. The pad, the gas coordination, the transfer switch, the panel work, the permit, the inspection — one company, one quoted price.
We Install Three Major Brands — and We’ll Tell You Which Fits
Most generator dealers in Fort Myers push one brand because that’s the franchise they bought. We install Generac, Kohler, and Briggs & Stratton, which means our recommendation is based on your home, not our inventory.
- Generac — the market leader. Widest model range, strongest parts availability in SWFL.
- Kohler — premium build, fast transfer times, excellent warranty. Popular in Naples and estate homes.
- Briggs & Stratton — strong value per kilowatt, solid units that often come in under the other two on price.
Not sure where to start? Our older comparison, Generac vs. Kohler vs. Briggs & Stratton, breaks down the differences.
What a Whole-Home Generator Actually Costs in Fort Myers
The honest range for a professionally installed whole-home standby system in Southwest Florida is roughly $9,000 to $20,000+, driven by three things:
- Size (kW). A 14kW unit covering essentials costs far less than a 26kW unit that starts two AC systems.
- Fuel supply. Homes with natural gas service skip the tank; propane installs add tank purchase or lease, pad and lines.
- Electrical work. Transfer switch type, panel condition, and distance between generator, gas and panel all move the number.
Anyone quoting you a generator price without seeing your panel and gas situation is guessing. We quote after a site visit, in writing, and the number doesn’t move.
Sizing: the Part Most People Get Wrong
The most common generator mistake in Florida isn’t brand — it’s buying a unit too small to start the air conditioner. AC compressors pull a big surge at startup, and an undersized generator will trip or stall exactly when you need it most. We run a load calculation on every install: square footage, AC tonnage, well pumps, pool equipment, and what you actually want powered during an outage. Typical Fort Myers results:
- 14–18kW — essentials plus one AC in a smaller home
- 22–26kW — whole-home coverage for most 3–4 bedroom houses
- 30kW+ — larger homes, multiple AC systems, pool equipment
What’s Included in Every Install
- Site visit and written quote
- Concrete pad or composite base, set to code
- Automatic transfer switch installation
- All electrical panel work
- Coordination with your gas provider (natural gas or propane)
- Permits and final inspection
- Startup, test under load, and a walkthrough of how it all works
Generator Repair & Maintenance
A standby generator is an engine — it needs oil changes, battery checks, and exercise cycles to be ready when the grid fails. We repair and maintain all three brands we sell, and we service units other companies installed. If your generator hesitated during its last self-test or failed during an outage, get it looked at before storm season, not during.
Hurricane Season Reality Check
After Ian, lead times on popular generator models stretched for months in SWFL. The buyers who ordered in January had power by June; the ones who called during a storm watch waited until fall. If a generator is on your list this year, the cheapest and fastest install you’ll get is the one you book early. Our hurricane season electrical guide covers the rest of the pre-storm checklist.
Generator Questions We Hear Most
Natural gas or propane?
If your street has natural gas, that’s usually the answer — no tank to fill, no deliveries after a storm. Propane works great where gas service doesn’t reach; we’ll size the tank for multi-day runtime.
How long can it run?
On natural gas: indefinitely, as long as gas service stays up (it usually does — gas lines are underground). On propane: typically 5–10+ days depending on tank size and load.
Will it start the AC?
If we size it, yes. That’s the whole point of the load calculation.
Do you service what you sell?
Yes — install, warranty work, repair and annual maintenance, all from the same local company. No 800-number runaround.
Get a Real Quote
Call 239-372-9426 or request a free estimate online. Serving Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties seven days a week.
What Our Customers Say
“Phillip and Alex did a great job installing a generator feed box and interlock system on my home. They arrived on time and were very professional. They cleaned up after themselves and talked me through the safe operation of using the generator interlock system. I highly recommend using Southwest Florida Electric Inc. for your electrical needs.”
— Richard J., via Google
“Jo was a great technician and I’ll definitely use SWFL Electric again!”
— Jon R., via Google
Read more reviews on our reviews page or Google profile.