Bitter cold drives the largest expected weather losses in Illinois, and a winter outage is when backup power matters most. This page lists installers by city and explains what to check before you hire one in Illinois.
Find an Installer by City
Don't see your city? Many installers serve a wide area. Check the nearest city, or ask us for help.
Installers Serving Illinois
We're still vetting installers in Illinois. In the meantime, our team can help you plan a system and explain what to look for in an installer.
Home Backup in Illinois: What to Know
Outages and the Illinois Grid
FEMA's National Risk Index puts expected annual losses in Illinois from cold waves at about $1.4 billion, more than any other weather hazard that commonly knocks out power. Tornadoes and heat waves come next, and Cook County has the highest cold-wave losses in the state.
Utilities
ComEd serves northern Illinois, including Chicago, and Ameren Illinois serves much of central and southern Illinois, along with municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.
Incentives and Utility Programs
Illinois' Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, signed in January 2026, sets a statewide battery storage target and creates options for virtual power plants. Ask ComEd, Ameren Illinois or your local utility which home battery programs are currently offered.
Checking an Installer's License
Illinois doesn't issue a statewide electrician license. Cities, villages and counties license or register electrical contractors (Chicago, for example, licenses its own), so ask which local license your installer holds and confirm it with your city or county building department.
Permits and Inspections
Electrical permits come from your city, village or county building department.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Home Backup Installer
- Are you licensed for this work in Illinois? Ask for the license number and check it with the city or county that licenses electricians where you live.
- Will you pull the permits and schedule the inspections? Permitted work protects your insurance and resale value.
- Have you installed this type of system before? Ask about battery, generator or transfer-switch projects like yours, and which brands.
- Will you install equipment I buy myself? Many installers will. Some only install what they sell. Ask before you buy.
- What's included in the quote? Look for the equipment, panel work, transfer switch, permits, utility paperwork and haul-away.
- What warranty do you provide on your workmanship? It's separate from the manufacturer's equipment warranty.
- How will the system switch over in an outage? Automatic or manual, and which circuits will be backed up.
- Who services the system after installation?
Need Help Choosing Equipment First?
Tell us about your home and what you want to keep running, and an Outbound Power specialist will recommend a system and explain how installation would work. No obligation.
Illinois Home Backup FAQs
Do I need a licensed contractor to install a home battery in Illinois?
Are there Illinois incentives for home batteries?
How do home batteries handle cold weather?
Lithium batteries charge more slowly in freezing temperatures, and many models protect themselves by limiting charging. Indoor or garage placement, or models with built-in heating, help. Your installer will advise on placement.
Can I buy my own equipment and hire a local installer?
Often, yes. Many installers will install customer-supplied equipment, but policies vary. Each listing in this directory shows whether the installer says they do. Confirm with the installer before you buy, and share the exact model so they can plan the installation.
Does Outbound Power install equipment?
No. Outbound Power sells home backup equipment and helps you plan a system. Installation is done by independent, licensed contractors like those listed here.
How are installers chosen for this directory?
Installers apply or are invited. Before listing, we confirm their business identity, check their license with the city or county that licenses electricians where you live, and confirm their services and service area. Verified installers have also completed an insurance and reputation review. Nobody pays to be listed or for placement. Directory standards →
Installers listed here are independent businesses, not employees or agents of Outbound Power. We check the items described in our directory standards, but we don't supervise or guarantee their work. Confirm licensing, permits, pricing and warranty terms in your written agreement. Listed in alphabetical order; Verified installers appear first. Nobody pays for placement.
