Marin Generator Rentals
We size the unit to your real load, tow it in, wire the distribution and keep the tank full, whether the job is waiting on PG&E or riding out a shutoff.
Generators for Marin jobs and outages
Most of our generator calls in Marin fall into two groups. Some come from builders whose temp service is still in the PG&E queue and who need to start framing anyway. Others come in when PG&E announces a Public Safety Power Shutoff and a site, a shop or an occupied remodel cannot afford to go dark for one to three days.
We stock everything from a gas portable that one plumber can lift to towable diesel sets from 20kW past 500kW. The size you need comes from a load list, so we ask what will run at the same time and what has a big starting draw, like a compressor, a welder or a pump. Picking from nameplate numbers alone often leaves a crew with a unit that stalls when two motors start together.
A generator often sits beside other gear on the lot. Night crews can run a diesel light tower off their own tank or the generator’s distribution. Once PG&E sets the meter, most sites switch over to the permanent temp pole and we pick up the unit, though some keep a smaller one on standby for fire season.
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Generator sizes and setup options
We carry several sizes and fuel types so the unit fits the job instead of the other way around.
Portable gas units
Small sets for a single trade, a pump or a few lights. Easy to carry into a backyard where a trailer cannot go.
20kW to 45kW towable diesel
The usual pick for a single-family build or a remodel with a trailer, saws, a compressor and an internet kit for the office.
100kW to 150kW diesel
For commercial work, multifamily buildings and sites with large motors, elevators or three-phase tools.
300kW and larger
Quoted per job for big commercial projects and facilities that need full building backup.
Cable and distribution
Cam-lock feeder, spider boxes and GFCI panels sized to the generator, so power reaches every corner of the site safely.
Standby and transfer setups
For PSPS backup, we can set the unit ahead of a forecast and connect it so the switchover is fast and safe. We also feed spot coolers and heaters on the same system.
Generator rental rates in Marin
Plan on $500 to $1,200 per week for a typical 20kW to 45kW set. Units from 100kW to 150kW usually fall between $1,500 and $3,000 a week. Anything 300kW or bigger is quoted per job, and fuel is billed on top.
- Generator size and fuel type
- Rental length, daily, weekly or monthly
- Fuel use and delivery frequency
- Cable length and distribution gear
- Delivery access on narrow or steep roads
- Air district permit work for larger units
We give a written quote with the rental, delivery, hookup and fuel plan listed separately, so each part of the bill is easy to check.
How a generator rental goes
1. Build the load list
You tell us what has to run. We add up running and starting watts and pick a unit with some room to spare.
2. Check the site and permits
We look at where the trailer can park, how far the cable has to run and what access looks like. On the bigger diesel sets, part of our prep is a call to check whether a BAAQMD permit applies.
3. Deliver and connect
We tow the generator in, set it level, run cable to the distribution panel and test the whole system under load.
4. Keep it fueled
We set a refuel schedule based on how hard the unit runs. During a PSPS event, we plan deliveries before the roads get busy.
5. Pick it up
When grid power comes back or the job ends, we disconnect, coil the cable and haul the unit out.
When a generator rental makes sense
If the grid cannot give you power, or might take it away, a generator fills in until it can.
Waiting on the PG&E meter
The permit is in, the pole is set, and the utility still has not scheduled the meter. A rental keeps the schedule moving in the meantime.
PSPS shutoffs in fire season
On high wind days PG&E can de-energize lines across the hills of Marin. A generator wired ahead of time keeps a site, a well pump or an occupied home running.
Rebuilds with no service at all
After a teardown, the old meter is gone. A generator covers the first weeks of demo cleanup and foundation work.
Short jobs and remote spots
A one-week concrete pour, a retaining wall far up a hillside, or a dock repair on the bay may be too short or too far from the line for a pole.
Planned building shutdowns
Panel swaps and service upgrades leave a house or shop without power for a day or more. A rental carries the critical loads.
Why crews rent generators from a licensed electrician
Rental yards hand over a unit and leave the hookup to you. We are a C-10 electrical contractor, so we size the set, run the cable, land it in a distribution panel with the right protection and run it with your tools on before our truck pulls away.
- Load sizing from your actual equipment list
- Cable, cam-locks and distribution boxes supplied
- Hookup and testing by licensed electricians
- Scheduled fuel delivery so nobody runs dry
- Compact units for narrow roads and steep driveways
- Standby setups ready before a PSPS event starts
Generator rental questions
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what runs at the same time and what has a large start-up draw. Send us your equipment list and we will size it for you.
Can you set up a generator before a PSPS shutoff?
Yes, if we have notice. PG&E usually warns customers ahead of a planned shutoff, and that is the best time to call. During a big event, units and fuel trucks get booked fast.
Do I need an air permit?
Some larger diesel units may need one from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Before we book a large set, we look at the unit and how long it stays to check whether a BAAQMD permit applies.
Who handles the fuel?
We do. We schedule refueling based on how hard the unit runs, and fuel is billed on top of the rental.
Can I keep a generator on standby all fire season?
Yes. Some owners and builders keep a unit parked and wired from late summer into fall. We check fuel and run the engine on a schedule so it starts when the shutoff comes.
Can a trailer generator get up my road?
Most can. If the road is too tight or steep, we use a smaller unit or park lower and run a longer cable.
Other equipment for Marin job sites
Price out Generator Rentals for your site
Call 415-707-8725 or send the form with the address and start date. You get a written quote, usually the same day.