The #1 Authorized Generac Home Standby Generator Dealer in Ontario
Products
Services
Online Store
Other Resources
The #1 Authorized Generac Home Standby Generator Dealer in Ontario
The April 2025 ice storm in Ontario was one of its most severe ice storms in recent memory. Over 300,000 homes and businesses lost power, with some areas, like Orillia and surrounding townships, experiencing outages that lasted more than 10 days. Families were forced to seek shelter in hotels, basements flooded due to failed sump pumps, and local grocery stores closed their doors, unable to operate without electricity.
https://youtu.be/7hsWT5tVyX0?si=0_e-_mKiOQ9lYUKY
As someone who’s been in the electrical contracting business since 1993, I’ve seen firsthand the increasing frequency and severity of such events. This storm was a stark reminder that standby generators are no longer a luxury—they’re a necessity.
The April ice storm’s impact went beyond just the inconvenience of being without electricity:
Flooded Basements: Without power, sump pumps failed, leading to significant water damage in homes. Many homeowners were shocked to discover that their insurance policies didn’t cover the second instance of flooding, leaving them with hefty repair bills.
Closed Grocery Stores: Power outages forced local grocery stores to shut down, making it impossible for residents to restock perishables after losing their refrigerated goods.
Fuel Shortages: With gas stations also affected by the power outages, many found themselves unable to refuel their vehicles or generators, compounding the challenges during the crisis.
Communication Breakdown: Charging essential devices like phones became a challenge, especially when local gas stations were non-operational, cutting off a vital line of communication during emergencies.
Over the years, we’ve installed thousands of backup generators across Ontario. While some homeowners were initially hesitant, viewing them as unnecessary expenses, their perspectives changed dramatically during this storm.
Dave from Kitchener
Dave was skeptical about installing a backup generator. He believed power outages were rare and short-lived. However, during the ice storm, his home lost power for three days. Without electricity, his wife’s CPAP machine couldn’t operate, and they had to check into a hotel, which ironically had backup power. The total cost of that outage for them? Over $1,200 between food, hotel bills, and lost time at work. After this experience, Dave called us:
“I should’ve listened. Book me in for installation.”
Anna from Newmarket
Anna had a newborn and an elderly mother living with her. We installed a standby generator for her in 2021. During the 2022 deep freeze, their neighborhood lost power for 19 hours. Thanks to the generator, they had heat, light, and were able to cook. Their next-door neighbors had to evacuate to a cousin’s place. Anna emailed us the next day:
“I didn’t know how much we needed this until we did. Thank you for keeping us warm and safe.”
Mark from Mississauga
Mark was hosting a backyard birthday party for his daughter during a summer heatwave. Mid-afternoon, the power went out. His neighbors’ homes went dark, and their parties ended early. But at Mark’s place? The lights stayed on, the music kept playing, and the food stayed cold. He called the next day:
“I take it all back. Best investment I’ve made in this house.”
Power outages can be costly:
Lost groceries from a full fridge and freezer: $300–$600
Hotel stays during extended outages: $150–$250 per night
Plumbing damage due to frozen pipes: $1,000+
Medical device outages (oxygen concentrators, CPAPs, etc.): Risky at best
Work from home interruptions: Lost income for many people
Add those up during just one bad outage, and you’re easily in the thousands. Now imagine if that happens twice in a year. Or every year.
A properly sized, professionally installed standby generator can pay for itself within the first major outage—and then keep saving you money for the next 15 to 20 years.
A lot of people think they’ll just use a portable generator if things get bad. While portable generators can be great for powering a few appliances or tools, they don’t compare to the fully automatic protection of backup generators.
No pulling cords.
No refueling in a snowstorm.
No running extension cords across your house.
With a standby generator, the system detects a power outage and automatically kicks in within seconds. It runs off your natural gas or propane line. You don’t need to lift a finger. It just works.
At Platinum Electrical Contractors, we don’t do cookie-cutter solutions. Every home is different, and every family has different needs.
That’s why we start with a free on-site consultation. We’ll take a look at your property, your electrical setup, your power needs, and your budget—and we’ll recommend a system that makes sense.
Whether that’s a model for essential loads or a larger model that powers everything in your house, we’ll guide you through it, explain the options, and handle everything—permits, installation, testing, and future maintenance.
Our team has been doing this for decades. We’ve been Ontario’s #1 Generac dealer for years because we focus on doing it right.
I’m not here to scare you. I’m here to share what I’ve seen.
Over the past 30 years, I’ve helped thousands of families across Ontario stay powered through storms, blackouts, and everything in between. And time and time again, the people who were on the fence are the ones who call me later and say:
“Adam—I’m so glad we did this.”
It’s not just about protecting your food or keeping the lights on. It’s about protecting your home, your routine, and your peace of mind.
Don’t wait until the next big outage or another ice storm in Ontario to realize how important backup power is.
Let us help you plan.
Contact Platinum for your free on-site consultation today—and take the first step toward true energy independence.
Resources:
The #1 Authorized Generac Home Standby Generator Dealer in Ontario
© 2024 Platinum Electrical Contractors, All Rights Reserved
A member of our team will be in touch shortly to discuss how we can help to meet your needs.