After an outage, how do I know power has transferred back to utility from the generator?

Environment

This article applies to Generac home standby generators equipped with an automatic transfer switch and Mobile Link connectivity.

Issue or question

After a power outage, customers may want to confirm whether their home has successfully transferred back to utility power from generator power.

Cause

When utility power is restored, the automatic transfer switch transitions the home back to utility power and signals the generator to shut down after a brief cool-down period. This process happens automatically and may not always be obvious without checking specific indicators.

How to confirm power has returned to utility

Use the following methods to determine whether your home is back on utility power:

• Check a light switch or appliance: Turn a light switch off and back on. This can provide a quick indication that power has returned to utility, but it should not be used as the only confirmation.
• Listen for generator noise: If the generator is no longer running and there is no engine noise, it is a strong indication that utility power has been restored and the generator has completed its shutdown cycle.
• Check Mobile Link status: Open the Mobile Link app and review the generator status.
  • A status of Ready to Run indicates the generator is on standby and utility power is supplying the home.
  • Review the Status History to confirm that the outage has ended and the system has returned to normal operation.
• Check the generator directly: Look at the generator control panel.
  • The display should show Ready to Run or a normal standby message.
  • Indicator LEDs should show normal status, typically green.
  • There should be no active alarm or warning codes present.

Note: The generator may continue to run for a short cool-down period after utility power returns. This is normal and does not indicate that the home is still running on generator power.

Note: If it seems like the power transfer was not successful, follow the steps in Shutting the generator down during an outage.

When to seek additional support

If the generator continues to run for an extended period after utility power is restored, or if the control panel displays an error or warning, contact Generac Customer Support or an Independent Authorized Service Dealer (IASD) for further assistance.

See also

• How does an automatic transfer switch work?
• Troubleshooting automatic transfer switch issues
• Troubleshooting guide for home standby generators during an outage
• How do I simulate a power outage to test my home standby system?