Copy this comparison table

Send every bidder the same backup-load list and project expectations. Record each proposal’s date and revision so a revised price does not get compared with an older scope.

Scope item Proposal A Proposal B Question to resolve
Generator Model, generation, fuel rating Model, generation, fuel rating Are the outputs comparable on your fuel?
Load calculation Included / excluded Included / excluded What runs together?
Managed loads Named loads and controls Named loads and controls What can be paused?
Transfer equipment Exact model and scope Exact model and scope Is it included and compatible?
Site preparation Pad, access and restoration Pad, access and restoration Who restores disturbed surfaces?
Electrical work Included work and allowances Included work and allowances Are service changes included?
Fuel work Pipe, meter, tank and regulator scope Pipe, meter, tank and regulator scope Who confirms supply adequacy?
Permits and inspections Responsibility and fees Responsibility and fees Who closes the permits?
Commissioning Tests and owner handoff Tests and owner handoff Will the backup plan be demonstrated?
Warranty Equipment and workmanship Equipment and workmanship Who handles a claim?
Maintenance Included service or separate plan Included service or separate plan What is excluded?
Total Price, tax and allowances Price, tax and allowances Which amounts can change?

Download the comparison worksheet. Fill it with your own quotes; it contains no assumed local prices. Use these status labels consistently:

  • Included: the written proposal identifies the work and its price treatment.
  • Excluded: you must arrange or fund it separately if it is needed.
  • Allowance: an amount is included, but the defined work or final charge is not fully settled.
  • Unresolved: the proposal does not answer the question.
  • Not applicable: the installer has explained why this item does not apply to your project.

A blank is unresolved, not free. Keep the contractor’s wording and proposal reference alongside your status label.

If the totals are far apart, use why generator installation quotes vary to identify the difference and request a comparable revision—not to assign an assumed price to missing work.

Ask for exclusions in writing

Do not ask only “Is installation included?” Ask for an inclusion, exclusion, allowance or unresolved status for each of these potential scope boundaries. Not every project needs every item.

Line item to clarify Ask for this in writing
Electrical route and service changes Included route and work; panel or service changes; who pays for changes required after assessment.
Fuel supply and utility work Who confirms supply for the proposed generator; piping, meter, regulator or tank work included; any separately billed utility or fuel-supplier work.
Trenching and restoration Included route and surfaces; responsibility for difficult excavation, backfill, landscaping, irrigation and paved-surface repair.
Base, delivery and access Specified base and preparation; delivery and placement responsibility; extra handling or access work not included.
Permits and corrections Applications and fees included; inspection scheduling; responsibility and price treatment if corrections or a revised design are required.
Startup and accessories Commissioning, owner demonstration and registration responsibilities; whether required batteries, controls and specified accessories are included.
Monitoring and service What is included at handover versus a separate subscription or service agreement; renewal terms and callout charges, if offered.
Commercial terms Tax treatment, quote validity, deposit and payment milestones, cancellation terms, equipment substitutions and change approval.

For an allowance, record the amount already in the quoted total, what it covers, the quantity or assumption behind it and how a final charge replaces it. Ask whether unused allowance is credited and how overruns are authorized. Do not count the full final charge again on top of an allowance already included in the total.

Keep fixed-price work, allowances and unpriced exclusions visibly separate. Ask for a revised written proposal after scope questions are resolved; do not manufacture a “true total” by assigning your own prices to missing work. A known exclusion with no price is still an open budget risk.

The installed-cost guide explains cost categories. The installation guide covers the sequence of work; this checklist is for recording who has priced and accepted each responsibility.

Confirm what has actually been checked at your property

A quote based on an assumed location or fuel connection is not the same as a proposal that has assessed them. Generac’s consultation guidance specifically includes generator placement, site requirements, fuel connection and property restrictions. 3 Ask the installer to return this confirmation record with the proposal:

Confirmation Written answer to request
Backup plan Named loads supported together, loads managed or excluded, and the installer’s assessment supporting the proposed system.
Equipment and electrical fit Exact generator, fuel rating and transfer equipment; panel or service work identified; any design decision still pending.
Proposed location Marked site or written location description; confirmation against the exact model’s instructions and applicable local requirements; restrictions still awaiting review.
Fuel supply Who assessed the proposed generator alongside existing fuel appliances; utility or propane-supplier decisions still outstanding; who requests and pays for any changes.
Approvals and timing Authority handling permits, inspections needed, responsible contractor and dependencies that could change the schedule or scope.

For each answer, record confirmed or pending, the responsible business, the document/date and the next action. A homeowner’s photo or calculator result is a starting point for discussion, not technical approval.

Use the placement guide and permit questions to prepare. Ask qualified professionals to make the technical checks; do not open electrical equipment, test gas pressure or alter connections to fill out this worksheet.

Copy this request: “Please identify which parts of this proposal are based on a completed property assessment and which remain assumptions. For every pending item, name who will resolve it, when, and how a changed requirement would affect the price or schedule. Please return the answers as part of the written proposal.”

Make the backup plan testable

Attach your load worksheet to the proposal. Ask which appliances are supported, which are managed and which are excluded. A label such as “whole house” leaves too much room for different interpretations.

Ask the installer to describe the commissioning demonstration and how it will show the agreed backup plan. Generac describes simulating an outage before installation is complete. 3 Have the qualified installer conduct the test and explain the result; do not disconnect utility power or operate transfer equipment yourself to stage a test.

During handoff, request equipment documents, commissioning records, maintenance instructions, service contacts and applicable permit closeout records. Record unfinished items and who will correct them. Confirm the equipment warranty, the installer’s workmanship obligations and the route for reporting each type of problem separately.

Choose the provider as well as the equipment

Use the installer-selection checklist to distinguish trade qualifications, manufacturer relationships and service commitments. Browse the generator provider directory if you need businesses to contact: its listings are unverified, not independently vetted or endorsed by Backup Generator Guide. Confirm service at your address and the exact work offered directly. We do not arrange installations or collect or forward enquiries for these businesses.

Before signing, resolve material differences in backup coverage, required site work and responsibility. Keep unresolved items visible instead of allowing a lower headline price to decide the comparison.

Keep scope comparison separate from verifying the installer’s licence, insurance and certification. A complete proposal does not establish that the named businesses hold the permissions and coverage needed for your job.

Sources