Spring in Calgary can be unpredictable. Late snow, heavy wind, and rapid melt can all show up in the same week, and power interruptions tend to follow at the worst possible time. Most homeowners don’t plan for standby power until they’ve had one outage that makes them rethink everything.

This post answers two questions Calgary homeowners actually care about:

• What should you power first during an outage?

• What size standby generator do you really need?

For city resources and general updates during storm events, you can also reference the City of Calgary.

From the field in Calgary (Crew Electrical Services)

Crew Electrical Services: What we see every spring in Calgary
Every spring in Calgary, the calls usually start after a late snowstorm or heavy wind event when trees drop branches onto power lines. The most common theme isn’t panic, it’s realization. Homeowners call us saying, “We didn’t think this would happen in May,” especially when overnight temps still dip below zero. A lot of people lose power just long enough for furnaces to shut down and fridges to start warming up. The other big concern are sump pumps during spring melt, once people realize their pump is dead, the urgency spikes fast. Many of these calls come from newer homes in rural areas that assume the grid is more reliable than it actually is. Spring outages here are short but disruptive, which is exactly why people start thinking about standby power.

If you want to see what sets Crew Electrical Services apart, start here: Why Crew Electrical Services.

What should you power first during a Calgary outage?

A good standby plan isn’t about powering everything. It’s about keeping your home safe, livable, and protected from damage. For most Calgary homes, “essentials” looks like this:

1) Furnace (heat comes first)

In Calgary, heat is the priority even in spring. If your furnace is off for hours during a cold snap, the house gets uncomfortable fast. Standby power keeps the furnace controls and blower running so you can maintain heat.

2) Fridge and freezer

Power doesn’t have to be out for days to create a food problem. Fridges warm up, freezers start thawing, and suddenly you’re throwing out groceries.

3) Sump pump (especially during spring melt)

If you have a sump pump, this is one of the most important circuits to protect. Spring melt plus an outage can turn into a basement issue quickly.

4) A few lights, key outlets, and Wi-Fi

After heat and damage prevention, most homeowners want a basic “normal life” layer: a few lights, a couple outlets, Wi-Fi, and often the garage door.

Do I need whole-home backup or just essentials?

Most homeowners ask for whole-home backup at first. Then they walk through their real priorities and change their minds. That’s not downsizing. That’s being practical.

Crew Electrical Services: What homeowners think they need vs what they really need
Most homeowners usually want “whole-home power,” but once we walk them through real use, people’s priorities change. The top things people actually want powered are the furnace, fridge/freezer, sump pump, a few lights, and Wi-Fi. Things like EV chargers, hot tubs, and electric ranges sound important at first, but they quickly become secondary once people understand generator sizing and cost. In Calgary, keeping heat on is the priority, even in spring. Food preservation and basement flooding usually come next. Once homeowners see that a properly sized generator can comfortably handle essentials, they realize whole-home backup isn’t necessary for peace of mind.

If you’ve added bigger electrical loads recently, that matters when planning backup power. Common examples include:

• EV charger installation

• Home automation & controls

• Solar installation

What size standby generator do I need?

The honest answer: it depends on your priorities and your home’s real electrical load. The wrong way to size a generator is guessing based on square footage. The right way is planning what you actually want to run and checking what your service and panel can support.

Step 1: Choose your “backup level”

Most homeowners fall into one of these:

• Essentials backup: furnace, fridge/freezer, sump pump, a few lights, Wi-Fi

• Essentials + comfort: essentials plus more circuits for convenience

• Expanded backup: more coverage, but still limited by big electric loads

Step 2: Identify big loads that change sizing and cost

These loads often push generator sizing up, or require smarter load management:

• EV chargers

• Hot tubs

• Electric ranges

• Air conditioning

• Basement suites

Step 3: Load calculation is what prevents expensive surprises

This is the part that protects you from buying the wrong system or discovering mid-project that your home needs upgrades first.

Crew Electrical Services: One real install lesson we’ve learned the hard way
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that panel capacity surprises people. Homes with 100-amp services often have way more electrical load than homeowners realize, especially with added EV chargers, air conditioners, hot tubs or basement suites. We regularly see panels installed in houses that look and function “fine” until we actually do a load calculation. Placement is another big issue, generator location has to work for code, noise, exhaust clearance, and snow buildup and not just convenience. Panels are often covered from renovations or in non accessible areas. We’ve also learned that future planning matters. If we size just for today, we can encounter roadblocks later. Doing homework upfront and planning for the future avoids expensive changes down the road.

If your panel or service is limiting the plan, you may need a panel upgrade before moving forward.

Where can a standby generator be installed?

Generator placement needs to meet safety and clearance requirements, and Calgary weather adds practical considerations. The best spot is the one that works for:

• Code and clearances

• Noise and exhaust direction

• Snow buildup and access

• A clean, safe run back to your electrical equipment

If you’re already dealing with electrical issues or unreliable circuits, start with troubleshooting and repairs before planning standby power.

Permits and inspections in Calgary

Crew Electrical Services: Permits and inspections
Permits are required for home safety and the safety of the utility operators in Alberta. Permits and inspections are part of doing generator installs properly in Calgary, and we handle all the coordination so it’s not a homeowner side quest.

Generator support in Calgary and surrounding areas

Crew Electrical Services serves Calgary and nearby communities including Coventry Hills, Springbank Hill, Auburn Bay, Altadore, and Lake Bonavista. We also work in Rocky View County, Airdrie, and Cochrane.

Ready to plan standby power for spring?

If you want standby power that’s sized to your real priorities and your home’s actual capacity, start here:

• Generac generator installation

• Get a Quote

• Post-storm help: Disaster Response and 24/7 emergency support

• Contact the team: Contact

• Explore more Residential services and Commercial services

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FAQ: Calgary spring outages and standby generator sizing

What should I power first during a Calgary outage?

Start with your furnace, then fridge/freezer, then sump pump (if you have one). After that, add a few lights, key outlets, and Wi-Fi.

What size standby generator do I need?

The right size depends on what you want backed up and your home’s actual electrical load. A load calculation prevents overbuying or underplanning.

Do I need whole-home backup?

Usually not. Most homeowners choose an essentials or essentials + comfort setup and skip powering everything.

Will an EV charger or hot tub change the generator size I need?

Yes. Large electric loads can push sizing up and can expose limits in your service or panel capacity.

Will I need a panel upgrade before installing a standby generator?

Not always, but it’s common when electrical demand is higher than people realize or panel capacity is limited.

Where can a standby generator be installed?

Placement must meet clearance and safety requirements and should consider noise, exhaust direction, and snow buildup.

Does Crew Electrical Services handle permits and inspections?

Yes. Permits and inspections are part of doing generator installs properly in Calgary, and Crew Electrical Services coordinates the process.