Tropical storms and hurricanes top Rhode Island's list of costly weather threats to the power supply, so plan for multi-day outages. This page lists installers by city and shows how to confirm a license with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training before you hire.
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 Rhode Island
We're still vetting installers in Rhode Island. In the meantime, our team can help you plan a system and explain what to look for in an installer.
Home Backup in Rhode Island: What to Know
Outages and the Rhode Island Grid
FEMA's National Risk Index puts expected annual losses in Rhode Island from hurricanes at about $20 million, more than any other weather hazard that commonly knocks out power. Heat waves and cold waves come next, and Providence County has the highest hurricane losses in the state.
Utilities
Rhode Island Energy serves nearly all of Rhode Island, with small municipal and district utilities in Pascoag and on Block Island.
Incentives and Utility Programs
Rhode Island Energy's ConnectedSolutions battery program pays homeowners for letting their battery discharge during summer peak events. Enrollment usually goes through your installer or battery company, and rates are set by state regulators, so check the current rate before you buy.
Checking an Installer's License
Rhode Island licenses electricians and electrical contractors through the Department of Labor and Training's professional regulation unit. Check a license on the department's online system.
Permits and Inspections
Electrical permits come from your city or town's building official.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Home Backup Installer
- Are you licensed for this work in Rhode Island? Ask for the license number and check it with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.
- 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.
Rhode Island Home Backup FAQs
Do I need a licensed contractor to install a home battery in Rhode Island?
Are there Rhode Island incentives for home batteries?
Should I choose a battery, a generator, or both?
Batteries switch over silently and need no fuel, but multi-day outages can drain them. Generators run as long as fuel lasts. Many homes in hurricane areas combine both, recharging the battery from solar or a generator. An installer can size either option to your essential loads.
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 Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, 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.
