A 13.5 kWh home battery (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery) runs essential loads (fridge, lights, internet) for 18 to 36 hours. A 9 kW portable gas generator runs unlimited duration but requires fuel storage, regular runtime maintenance, and creates noise + emissions. Battery: $13,500 installed, 30 percent IRA ITC, near-zero operating cost. Generator: $1,800 to $3,200 upfront, $400 to $800 per outage in fuel.
Runtime vs lifetime cost
A 13.5 kWh battery runs essentials (fridge, lights, internet, modem) for 18 to 36 hours. Whole-home loads for 6 to 12 hours. The IRA 30 percent ITC covers $4,050 of the $13,500 cost.
A 9 kW gas generator runs unlimited with fuel. Average 9 kW gen burns 0.7 gallons/hour. 24-hour outage uses 17 gallons; $60 to $100 per outage in fuel cost.
Outage frequency by state
FL, TX, LA, NC, SC see 4 to 12 multi-hour outages per year on average. CA wildfire-prone counties see 6 to 24. NY metro sees 2 to 6.
Battery payback through outage avoidance + IRA credit: 8 to 14 years. Generator payback: 4 to 8 years if outages exceed 6 per year.
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