In British Columbia, storm preparation is not only about flashlights and bottled water. A long outage can stop the systems that protect the home itself: heating or cooling equipment, sump pumps, rural well pumps, refrigeration, home offices, communications and medical devices. The best time to confirm that those systems have backup power is before the forecast turns serious and contractors, fuel suppliers and replacement parts are under pressure.
PreparedBC notes that outages can affect every region of the province and may be caused by wind, freezing rain, snow, extreme heat and wildfires. That makes backup power part of a broader household resilience plan, not a last-minute purchase. For a complete overview of generator types, sizing, costs and safety, start with Greenfoot's Canadian whole-home generator and storm-preparation guide.
Direct answer: Before storm season, identify the circuits your home cannot safely lose, test your emergency plan, confirm generator maintenance, review fuel availability, check carbon-monoxide alarms and make sure any connection to home wiring uses approved transfer equipment installed under the required permit.
1. Build the outage plan around your essential loads
Start with the loads that prevent property damage or protect health. For many homes in British Columbia, that list includes a heating-system blower or circulator, sump pump, well pump, refrigerator, freezer, internet equipment, selected lights and medical devices. Write the list down and keep it near the electrical panel.
Do not assume that a generator sized for lights and a refrigerator can start a well pump, sump pump or heat-pump compressor. Motors can draw far more electricity at startup than during normal operation. A professional load assessment should use equipment nameplates and realistic starting loads rather than a generic square-foot estimate.
2. Decide who will start the system during a storm
A portable generator can be useful when someone is home, physically able to move it into a safe outdoor position, connect approved cords or transfer equipment and monitor fuel. A standby generator is permanently installed and can start automatically through an automatic transfer switch.
That difference matters if the house is vacant, an outage happens overnight, mobility is limited or a sump pump cannot wait for someone to get home. Greenfoot's whole-home generator service focuses on permanently installed natural-gas and propane systems with automatic transfer equipment and in-home sizing.
3. Inspect and service the generator before severe weather
A standby generator should complete its scheduled exercise cycle, but that is not a substitute for maintenance. Before year-round severe-weather and wildfire season, confirm the battery, oil, filters, spark plugs, fault history and transfer-switch operation are being checked according to the manufacturer's schedule. Clear vegetation, snow storage and debris from the equipment area without changing required clearances.
Portable-generator owners should review the manual, inspect cords and confirm the unit starts before it is needed. Never wait until the outage to discover stale fuel, a failed starter battery or a damaged extension cord.
4. Review fuel and runtime realistically
Natural gas is widely available in many urban areas, while propane can be a stronger fit for rural, Island and off-grid-adjacent properties. Runtime depends on generator size, connected load, fuel supply and weather. Instead of relying on a broad "days of power" promise, ask the installer or fuel supplier for expected consumption at several load levels and build a conservative delivery plan.
Do not store or handle fuel in ways that conflict with fire codes, supplier instructions or local requirements. The goal is dependable access, not maximum storage.
5. Make carbon-monoxide safety non-negotiable
Health Canada says portable fuel-burning generators must operate outdoors, away from buildings, doors, windows and vents. Never run a portable generator in a house, garage, shed, carport or partly enclosed space. Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms before storm season and replace batteries where required.
A permanent standby system also requires code-compliant placement and exhaust clearances. "Outside" by itself is not a complete placement plan; distance from openings, lot lines, combustible surfaces, gas equipment and service access all matter.
6. Confirm the electrical connection and permit status
Permanent generator projects can involve electrical and gas permits, and Technical Safety BC publishes specific stationary-engine and generator permit guidance. Approved transfer equipment prevents generator power from feeding back onto utility lines, where it could injure line crews and damage equipment when utility power returns.
If a portable generator will connect to the home rather than directly to individual appliances, have a licensed electrician review the system before the next outage. Never connect a generator through a dryer receptacle or improvised "suicide cord."
7. Prepare the rest of the household for at least 72 hours
Backup power does not replace an emergency kit. Keep water, non-perishable food, medication, pet supplies, flashlights, batteries, phone power banks, cash and a battery or wind-up radio accessible. The federal government recommends that households be prepared to support themselves during an emergency, while provincial guidance may recommend planning for longer disruptions depending on local risk.
Bookmark the BC Hydro outage page, turn on outage alerts where available and know how to report a damaged service mast or downed line. If anyone relies on electrically powered medical equipment, make a separate relocation and battery plan rather than relying on one generator alone.
A final pre-storm checklist
- Confirm the generator starts and has no unresolved fault codes.
- Complete scheduled maintenance before the busy season.
- Verify the priority-circuit list and load-management settings.
- Confirm fuel availability and delivery access.
- Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
- Place emergency supplies where they can be found in the dark.
- Bookmark outage maps and save utility contact information.
- Review the plan with every adult in the household.
Get a generator assessment before the forecast changes
Greenfoot serves homeowners across Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Victoria, Langford, Kelowna and Kamloops. A home assessment can identify the circuits that matter, compare portable and standby strategies, review fuel options and determine whether an 18 kW, 22 kW or 26 kW system fits the actual load plan.
Read the full backup-power and storm-preparation pillar guide, then request a generator assessment before storm-season demand peaks.