Temporary Power in Fairfax
Standby generators, solar lighting and cellular internet for Fairfax remodels on wooded, fire-prone hillsides.
Building in Fairfax's hills and canyons
Fairfax sits at the west end of the Ross Valley, with many older homes on small, wooded hillside lots. Roads are steep and narrow, some with no room for a truck to turn around. Most jobs here are remodels, additions and rebuilds, and a lot of them start with a cramped lot and a tired 60A service.
The Town of Fairfax reviews building permits, and PG&E delivers the service. This part of Marin has high wildfire risk, so PSPS shutoffs are a real possibility in fall. A site with no backup can lose days of work, and a sump pump that stops can flood a fresh foundation dig. We can pre-wire a transfer switch at the temp panel so a crew member can swap to the generator in a few minutes.
We keep generators on clear, level pads away from dry brush and pick fuel storage spots that follow fire rules. Check with the local fire district about any limits on generators or hot work on red flag days. A small solar light tower can replace a diesel one and cut the fuel on site.
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Fairfax equipment picks
Standby during shutoffs
When the wind picks up and the grid goes dark, standby power when PG&E cuts the lines keeps tools, pumps and the trailer running until the circuit comes back. The unit waits at the temp panel ready for a quick changeover.
Lighting without fuel
On fire-risk lots, less fuel on site is better. Solar light towers that run without fuel charge by day and light the site at night with no engine noise.
Internet in a weak-signal canyon
Some canyon roads get spotty coverage. A cellular hotspot kit for remote lots bonds more than one carrier for a steadier link, and a satellite dish can back it up.
Fairfax price picture
For a Fairfax hillside job, a 20 to 45kW standby generator is normally $500 to $1,200 each week, with fuel extra. Solar or diesel light towers go for about $350 to $700 a week on rental. Fuel and delivery up narrow Fairfax roads are billed by the load.
- Generator weeks held for shutoff season
- Fuel delivery on steep roads
- Solar or diesel light towers
- Pole placement on a tight lot
Fairfax site notes
Areas past town limits, like Woodacre and the San Geronimo Valley, are unincorporated, so the county takes those applications. We pull up the parcel first and file with the right office. Streets right at the town line can go either way, so we never guess.
Fairfax Creek and San Anselmo Creek run through town, and some low lots can flood in heavy storms. Keep that in mind when you pick a pole spot. On the hillsides, plan for both dry summers and soggy winters on the same job.
Fairfax questions
Should I keep a generator on site all fall?
If your schedule cannot slip, it is worth thinking about. We can hold a unit on standby and only charge fuel when it runs. For a schedule that can slip a day, a call-out on a shutoff warning may be enough.
Is a pole possible on a Fairfax lot with no turnaround?
Usually, yes. We use a smaller truck and plan the setup with you first. Sometimes the pole goes on the uphill side by the road and cable runs down to the house.
Do you work in Woodacre and the valley?
Yes. Those jobs follow county permit rules, and we cover them from the same crew. Drive times are longer, so we group service visits in the valley when we can.
Rentals and installs in Fairfax
Power for your Fairfax job
Call 415-707-8725 and tell us the address, the load and the start date.