What Is GenerLink?

Quick answer

What GenerLink actually is

GenerLink is a device made by EnergyConnect that physically sits between your electric meter and your meter socket (the box on the outside of your home where the meter plugs in). It acts as a transfer switch, a safety device that disconnects you from the utility grid before connecting your generator, all in one compact unit at the meter.

The device has a weatherproof inlet on the side where you plug in your generator using a heavy-duty power cord (typically a 30-amp or 50-amp cord with a twist-lock connector). Once your generator is running and plugged in, power flows through the GenerLink into your home's main panel, making it available on all your circuits, just like normal grid power, but limited to what your generator can produce.

How it works, step by step

1. Normal times: The GenerLink sits at your meter and passes utility power through normally. You don't notice it's there.
2. Power goes out: The grid-side connection inside the GenerLink opens automatically, isolating your home from the utility lines. This is critical for safety, it prevents your generator from back-feeding power onto the utility lines where it could electrocute lineworkers.
3. You start your generator and let it warm up for 30–60 seconds.
4. You plug in the generator cord to the GenerLink inlet on the side of the unit.
5. Generator power flows into your panel. You can now use your lights, appliances, and outlets, within the wattage limits of your generator.
6. When grid power is restored, you unplug the generator, it shuts itself off, and the GenerLink reconnects to the grid automatically.

Why the meter location matters

Most transfer switch options require work inside the home, either rewiring the electrical panel or installing a subpanel for selected circuits. GenerLink bypasses all of that because it connects at the meter socket outside. The installation is done by your utility company or a licensed electrician in under an hour, and no interior work is required. This is the main reason GenerLink appeals to homeowners who want generator capability without a major electrical project.

What you can power

GenerLink gives your generator access to your entire electrical panel, but that doesn't mean you can run everything at once. What you can actually power depends entirely on your generator's wattage output. You're still responsible for managing your load and not exceeding what the generator can handle.

As a rough guide based on common generator sizes:

• 3,500–5,000W generator: Refrigerator, lights, phone/laptop charging, a window A/C unit or small space heater (not both)
• 5,000–8,000W generator: Everything above, plus a sump pump, microwave, and moderate TV/electronics use
• 9,000W+ generator: Most essential loads simultaneously; still unlikely to run central A/C or an electric water heater

Central air conditioning, electric dryers, electric water heaters, and whole-home electric heat are typically too large to run on portable generators regardless of how they're connected. If whole-home coverage is your goal, a standby generator paired with a full transfer switch is the better solution.

GenerLink vs. other connection methods

Safety features built in

GenerLink includes several safety mechanisms that make it far safer than improvised generator connections:

• Automatic grid isolation: As soon as the utility power drops, GenerLink disconnects from the utility side before you plug in your generator. You can't accidentally back-feed the grid.
• Interlocked connection: The design physically prevents the generator and utility from being connected at the same time.
• Listed and code-compliant: GenerLink is UL Listed and meets NEC requirements for transfer equipment, so it satisfies electrical code in most jurisdictions.
• Weatherproof housing: The outdoor inlet is rated for exterior use, with a cover that protects it when not in use.

What GenerLink does NOT do

• It does not increase your generator's wattage or capacity in any way
• It does not automatically start your generator when power goes out, that's a standby generator feature
• It does not work with all meter socket types, your utility must have a compatible meter base
• It does not eliminate the need for proper generator placement (outdoors, away from windows, well-ventilated)
• It does not replace a whole-home solution if you need central A/C or full electrical coverage

Cost breakdown

GenerLink units typically cost between $1,000 and $1,700 (USD) for the device itself. Installation by a utility or electrician adds another $250 – $450 depending on your area. In many regions, your electric utility installs it at no charge or for a modest fee as part of a generator interconnection program, it's worth calling your utility to ask before hiring an electrician.

The generator-to-GenerLink power cord (called GenerLok, a heavy-duty cord with the right amperage rating and twist-lock connectors) is usually a separate purchase, running $300 – $1,000 depending on length and amperage (20ft - 100ft). Make sure the cord matches your generator's outlet rating (30A or 50A) and the GenerLink model you have.

Is GenerLink available in your area?

GenerLink availability depends on whether your local electric utility offers or supports the program. Many utilities across the U.S. and Canada have approved GenerLink as a generator interconnection solution and either install it themselves or maintain a list of approved contractors. The best first step is to call your utility's customer service line and ask whether they support GenerLink or a meter-mounted transfer switch program.

If your utility doesn't support it, a licensed electrician can still install GenerLink in most cases, but you'll want to confirm that your existing meter socket is compatible before purchasing the unit.

Who is GenerLink right for?

• Homeowners who already own a portable generator and want a safe, legal way to use it with the whole house
• People who want generator capability without an expensive indoor electrical project
• Those who are comfortable manually starting and managing a portable generator during an outage
• Anyone who wants to avoid extension cords running through windows or the dangerous "suicide cord" approach

GenerLink is probably not the right choice if you need automatic backup power, whole-home coverage including large appliances, or if outages in your area last for weeks at a time and manual fueling would be a serious burden.

Simple takeaway

GenerLink is one of the most practical upgrades a portable generator owner can make. For a few hundred dollars and a short installation visit, you get a code-compliant, safe connection between your generator and your entire electrical panel, no extension cords, no rewiring, no complicated switches. If you own a portable generator and haven't looked into GenerLink yet, it's worth a phone call to your utility to find out if it's available.