DEDHAM, Mass. — The distant hum of a generator is a familiar sound following a bad storm. Brandon Cantelli describes it as a New England winter symphony.

“Yeah, the symphony. You’re driving down the road and you hear portable generators, fixed-in place generators, all these generators running up and down the road,” said Cantelli, a technician with Premier Generator in Carver.

So many rely on generators during and after a storm, it’s hard to imagine a New England winter without one. But consumer advocates say many of us are missing one very important piece: a transfer switch.

“A transfer switch is a safety provision put in place where we can tie the generator into the home’s electrical infrastructure,” Cantelli said.

Consumer Reports describes a transfer switch as a miniature circuit breaker panel that draws electricity from your generator instead of from the power company. A transfer switch allows you to plug your portable generator into an outdoor outlet instead of running multiple extension cords through an open door or window. This helps avoid a fire hazard. According to the Department of Fire Services, generators caused 25 fires in Massachusetts between 2018 and 2020.

A transfer switch will allow you to power your hardwire appliances, like a furnace, air conditioner compressor, water heater and well pump.

Don Stewart, owner of Stewart’s Power Equipment in Holbrook, said a transfer switch is the only way to correctly and efficiently power your home with a portable generator.

“Just the hazards of running high voltage cords through your home is just dangerous,” Stewart said. “A lot of people in the spur of the moment say, ‘Oh, I’ll get the transfer switch later.’ When they get their power back they tend to forget about it.”

However, the device and installation is not cheap. Consumer Reports says a transfer switch can run anywhere from $500 to $1,500 and need to be installed by an electrician.

“What’s the price of safety?” Cantelli said. “The transfer switch helps eliminate those [safety] concerns.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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