NIPSCO’s largest outage on record affected about 60% of customers at its peak.Why it matters ↓
ZEUSby Mt. Olympus Builders

Home backup power for Northwest Indiana

Keep your home running.Even when the grid is not.

Keep the lights, heat, sump pump, refrigerator, and internet on when utility power goes down. Compare generators, batteries, solar, and Starlink here. Then talk it through with Zeus or a Mt. Olympus team member.

Compare the systems
  • Five quick questions
  • Real product comparisons
  • Follow up with a local representative
Zeus, the Mt. Olympus Builders home backup guide
ZEUS · AI GUIDE“What has to stay on?”
01GENERATORRuns for days
02SOLARMakes power daily
03BATTERYTurns on instantly
04STARLINKKeeps you online
AUTOPower starts without dragging out a portable generator
ONLINEOptional Starlink keeps work and cameras connected
YOUR LOADSYou decide what the system must keep running
LOCALThe home is checked before equipment is ordered

BACKUP OPTIONS

Start with the problem you want to solve.

You do not need every product. Choose the outcome that matters, then build the system around your home and budget.

01Power goes out
02Backup takes over
03Your priorities stay on
01

For long outages

Automatic generator

When utility power drops, a natural-gas standby generator starts on its own and can keep the home running for days.

Best for: long outages and broad coverage
02

For instant backup

Home battery

A battery takes over without waiting. It is quiet, works indoors or outdoors depending on the product, and can cover the loads you choose.

Best for: quiet power and short outages
03

For everyday value

Solar panels

Solar makes power every day and can recharge a compatible battery during an outage. Panels alone do not provide backup power.

Best for: daily savings and battery recharge
04

For staying connected

Starlink internet

A permanently installed Starlink system can keep work, cameras, messaging, and streaming online when local cable or fiber goes down.

Best for: work, security, and communication

YOUR STARTING PLAN

Pick what you refuse to lose.

Tap everything that should keep working. The result is a starting point, not a final equipment size or quote.

STARLINK BACKUP INTERNET

Keep working. Keep cameras online. Keep in touch.

Starlink does not depend on the neighborhood cable line, but it still needs power. We install the equipment, protect the Wi-Fi power path, and test the full setup.

  1. 01
    Find a clear view of the sky

    We check the property before choosing a roof, wall, pole, or ground location.

  2. 02
    Mount it and run the cable cleanly

    The plan covers the mount, cable path, weatherproof entry, router location, and Wi-Fi coverage.

  3. 03
    Put the network on backup power

    The dish, router, mesh equipment, and charging outlets stay on through the generator or battery system.

SHOP THE SYSTEMS

Compare the equipment without leaving the page.

Start with the plain-English fit. Open the buying notes only when you want the details. Ask Zeus about any product along the way.

PRODUCT AND UTILITY INFORMATION CHECKED AUGUST 13, 2026

THREE COMMON SETUPS

Choose the type of system before the brand.

01Generator

Long-outage backup

Best for keeping most of the house running for days

Power failsGenerator startsSelected home loads stay on

Know this: It uses fuel and runs outdoors, but it is usually the clearest path to long-duration backup.

02Battery

Quiet instant backup

Best for essential loads, short outages, and daily solar use

Power failsBattery takes overSolar can recharge it

Know this: It is silent and immediate, but runtime depends on battery size, what you run, and returning sunlight.

03Full system

Generator + battery + solar

Best for automatic, quiet, and long-lasting backup

Battery responds firstSolar rechargesGenerator covers long gaps

Know this: It gives the most protection, but costs more and requires careful product matching.

GeneracRESEARCHED

Guardian 22 kW · G007042

A practical starting point for many NWI homes

  • 21 kW on natural gas
  • 100 A breaker
  • 327 ft³/hr NG at full load
WHY IT MADE THE LIST

It is widely recognized, remotely monitored, and supported by a large service network.

Buying notes and source
CHECK BEFORE BUYING

The 22 kW name is the propane rating. It makes 21 kW on natural gas, so we size from the actual fuel and loads instead of the badge.

Manufacturer documentation ↗
KOHLER / RehlkoRESEARCHED

20RCA

Strong choice for homes with large motors or pumps

  • 18 kW on natural gas
  • 41 kVA motor start
  • 64 dB(A) weekly exercise
WHY IT MADE THE LIST

Its published motor-starting performance stands out when air conditioning, wells, or pumps matter.

Buying notes and source
CHECK BEFORE BUYING

The transfer switch is separate on this configuration. Local parts and service coverage should be confirmed before purchase.

Manufacturer documentation ↗
CumminsRESEARCHED

QuietConnect RS20A

Worth comparing when sound is a concern

  • 20 kW standby class
  • Sound-attenuated enclosure
  • QuietConnect family ≤65 dB
WHY IT MADE THE LIST

The QuietConnect line is built around a compact footprint and lower published sound levels.

Buying notes and source
CHECK BEFORE BUYING

Confirm the exact natural-gas output and the strength of local dealer support before choosing it.

Manufacturer documentation ↗

These are products worth comparing, not a promise that every model fits every house. The final proposal confirms availability, installer requirements, warranty coverage, and compatibility.

GOOD TO KNOW

Three facts that can change what you buy.

The short version is here. The official source library is available below if you want to verify it.

SOLAR DURING AN OUTAGENOT ALONE

Panels need the right backup equipment.

Normal grid-tied solar shuts off when the grid fails. A compatible inverter or gateway is required, and most backup systems also use a battery.

2026 FEDERAL HOMEOWNER CREDIT0%

assumed in our starting math

The IRS says the former Residential Clean Energy Credit is unavailable for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. We do not quietly subtract it from a 2026 estimate.

NIPSCO EXCESS SOLAR CREDIT125%

of market-priced power

That is not the full retail electricity rate. It usually makes more sense to size solar around power the home will use instead of building only to sell extra power back.

See the sources behind our research17 OFFICIAL LINKS ↓
01NIPSCO · Excess Distributed Generation↗02NIPSCO · Rider 679 interconnection↗03IRS · Residential Clean Energy Credit↗04DOE · Homeowner’s Guide to Solar↗05Generac · Guardian 22 kW↗06KOHLER / Rehlko · 20RCA↗07Cummins · QuietConnect↗08FranklinWH · aPower 2↗09Generac · PWRcell 2↗10Tesla · Powerwall + generators↗11Enphase · IQ Battery 5P↗12Qcells · Q.TRON BLK M-G2+↗13REC · Alpha Pure-RX↗14Starlink · Standard 4X kit↗15Starlink · Service Plan Changes↗16Starlink · Reactivate service↗17Starlink · Check for obstructions↗

WHY NORTHWEST INDIANA

Summer storms and winter snow can both take the grid down.

The August 2026 storm brought winds approaching 100 mph and the largest outage event in NIPSCO history. Some areas faced multi-day restoration. Backup power is no longer only a winter conversation.

Around Northwest Indiana, these are the threats homeowners talk about preparing for:

SUMMER“New Tornado Alley”WINTER“Polar Vortex with Lake Effect Snowstorms”
60%of NIPSCO electric customers affected at the peak
100 mphapproximate storm winds reported by NIPSCO
Multi-dayrestoration expected in some communities
2 seasonssummer wind and winter lake-effect exposure

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

From five questions to an installed system.

01

Tell Zeus what must stay on

Answer five quick questions. Zeus gives you a sensible place to start and shows you the equipment that fits.

02

We check the house

A Mt. Olympus team member reviews the electrical panel, largest appliances, gas service, roof or yard, and Starlink sky view.

03

You compare clear options

You see what each option covers, what it does not cover, the equipment being considered, and what still needs to be verified.

04

The system is installed and tested

The right trades handle permits and installation. Before the job is complete, the system gets a real outage test and you get simple operating instructions.

LOCAL HELP

Serving Northwest Indiana.

Initial residential projects focus on Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. The team checks local permitting and brings in the right licensed trades for the approved scope.

Crown PointDyerHammondHighlandHobartLowellMerrillvilleMunsterPortageScherervilleSt. JohnValparaisoChestertonMichigan CityLaPorte

COMMON QUESTIONS

Clear answers before you buy.

If long outages are the main concern, start with a natural-gas generator. If you want quiet instant backup and daily solar use, start with a battery. If you want both, compare a generator-aware battery system. Zeus can narrow this down in five questions.

BE READY NEXT TIME

Know what your home will do when the power goes out.

Start with five quick questions. Zeus will show you a practical backup plan and the products worth comparing.

Follow up with a local representative