3888 Stillwell Beckett Rd Oxford, OH 45056
KOHLER STANDBY GENERATOR PROCESS
STEP 1 - Contact us
Contact Butler Rural Electric Cooperative to schedule a consultation.
STEP 2 - Site assessment
An employee from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s electrician services department will visit your home to perform a free site visit. Our electricians will work with you to coordinate a location for the generator and verify clearance requirements. Employees from the cooperative’s engineering department will calculate a generator size for your home and will prepare a quote for the electric portion of the project.
Contact a propane or natural gas provider and mechanical or plumbing contractor for quotes for these requirements. Use these quotes and the quote from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative to choose your loan amount.
STEP 3 - Complete loan application
Once you receive a quote for the project, complete the loan application, here. Once the cooperative receives the loan application, we will verify you meet the program requirements. You can also purchase a KOHLER standby generator from the cooperative without receiving a loan if you choose and skip this step.
STEP 4 - Installation process begins
Once the loan application is approved, the installation process may begin.
If you have propane at your home, contact your propane provider to install LP line and associated regulator.
If you have natural gas at your home, contact your preferred contractor to install natural gas piping.
If you do not have propane or natural gas at your home, contact Keystone Cooperative (formerly known as Harvest Land Cooperative), to install propane, LP line, and associated regulator at your home by calling 513-863-1414 or contact a propane company of your choice.
STEP 5 - Installation
Once propane or natural gas work is complete, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative employees will install the generator pad and generator. The cooperative will schedule an electrical inspection and notify you when electric work is complete and inspection is scheduled.
STEP 6 - Mechanical/plumbing work
Schedule all other work with a mechanical or plumbing contractor. Notify Butler Rural Electric Cooperative once all work is complete.
STEP 7 - Registration and warranty
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative will start the generator to confirm it is working correctly and will complete generator registration with KOHLER for warranty purposes.
STEP 8 - Loan and maintenance
Repay the loan on your monthly electric bill. Contact Buckeye Power Sales or a company of your choice for all generator maintenance work. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative does not complete generator maintenance work.
KOHLER Premium Warranty
Each KOHLER generator has a 2,000-hour, five-year premium limited warranty covering parts, labor, and dealer travel for the full warranty period. Optional extended warranties are available. Each generator features a corrosion-resistant enclosure that’s built to last.
KOHLER Mobile App
Members can connect their generator to the internet to get peace of mind in the palm of their hand. The KOHLER mobile app will let members monitor their generator system anytime from anywhere and get instant updates via text or email.
Other KOHLER advantages
> Has the only commercial grade air cooled engine on the market for home standby generators.
> Requires less maintenance and will last longer than the competition.
> Will perform better during long outages due to the commercial qualities of the engine.
> Has twice the starting capacity of any other generator competitor in the residential market.
> Has local distribution that stocks over $1 million in parts between Ohio and Indiana.
How do I know what size generator to purchase?
Employees from the cooperative’s engineering department will calculate a generator size for your home.
How much will a standby generator cost?
The cost to purchase and install a standby generator varies from location to location. If you are interested in installing a standby generator, an employee from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s electrician services department will visit your home to perform a free site visit. Our electricians will work with you to coordinate a location for the generator and verify clearance requirements. Employees from the cooperative’s engineering department will calculate a generator size for your home and will prepare a quote for the project.
The member can choose the loan amount. Loan funds can cover labor, electric work, plumbing, and materials.
Why did the cooperative choose to offer KOHLER generators to members?
All of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s substations and the cooperative’s office use KOHLER generators. The cooperative uses Buckeye Power Sales to service these generators.
How much does the annual maintenance cost for a standby generator?
All generator maintenance work can be completed by Buckeye Power Sales or a company of your choice. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative does not complete generator maintenance. The cost for Buckeye Power Sales to complete annual generator maintenance is approximately $800, which varies based on make and model.
Can I purchase a standby generator if I’m building a new home?
You can purchase a standby generator from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative but cannot utilize our loan services or electrician services to install the generator.
How does a standby generator work without electricity?
Standby generators have their own power source – either propane or natural gas.
How long can a KOHLER generator power my home?
This is dependent on the generator type, fuel source type, and fuel availability. Per the manufacturer’s recommendations, a KOHLER generator should be visually inspected and the oil level should be checked every 8 to 10 hours under an outage condition.
Can I install the generator myself?
The member is permitted to install the generator themselves. However, the member would need to apply for the appropriate permits and have inspections completed by the county prior to the cooperative performing the start-up and commissioning of the generator.
Who will service my generator after it is installed?
Contact Buckeye Power Sales or a company of your choice for all generator maintenance work. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative does not complete generator maintenance work.
What is the life span of a KOHLER generator?
15 to 20 years or 2,000 to 3,000 hours when properly maintained and serviced.
How long can my generator run before I need to check my battery?
For most applications, the length of time the generator will run should not affect the integrity of the battery. Periodically inspect battery terminals and cabling to verify torque and to remove any corrosion present on the connections. Schedule annual inspections of generators and electrical units with the authorized KOHLER distributor in your area.
If I need a propane service, do I have to utilize Keystone Cooperative?
No, the member has the option of using Keystone Cooperative but it is not required.
If I utilize Keystone Cooperative for propane service, do I have the option to lease the propane tank or do I have to purchase?
If the member is installing a propane tank for home generator use only (no other propane equipment or appliances present in the residence), the tank will need to be purchased from Keystone Cooperative.
What size propane tank would you recommend for my system?
We recommend installing a 300 to 500 gallon tank for a home generator system. Smaller tanks can be purchased and installed, but this will increase tank fill frequency and may cause gas line pressure reliably issues. On average, a 22 to 24 kW generator uses about 2 gallons of propane per hour at half load and 3.8 gallons per hour at full load. For example, a 120 gallon propane tank can run a 22 kw generator for approximately 48 hours at 50% load, where a 500 gallon tank can run the same generator for approximately 196 hours.
Do I need any permits?
Yes, permits for the electric and gas piping scope for the generator installation are required. The inspection(s) must be completed before the cooperative will start-up and commission the generator. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative can speak with you about your county’s requirements.
