4 min read
Generator & Energy Storage Basics
In an era of increasingly volatile weather and an aging power grid, energy independence has moved from a luxury to a necessity. Whether it’s surviving a Texas deep freeze, a Vermont blizzard, or a Gulf Coast hurricane, the peace of mind that comes with reliable backup power is priceless.
Below, we’ve gathered stories from real Briggs & StrattonEnergy Solutions customers—from retired engineers to rural homesteaders—who have taken control of their energy future.
For Nick and Traci, moving to Morehead City meant finding their "forever home." Nick, an electrical engineer who works from home, requires stable, uninterrupted power for his high-demand setup. After a frustrating experience with an overseas battery manufacturer, they switched to Briggs & Stratton SimpliPHI 6.6® batteries.
"What stood out about Briggs & Stratton® was the fact that they’re a U.S.-based company with a U.S. support team. We didn’t want to go with another overseas company," Nick explains. "We had a storm the other week and were on battery power four times and my wife didn’t even notice".
When you’ve spent 55 years in the utility industry, you know exactly what reliable looks like. Gregg lives in a remote area of North Texas with his wife and their flock of sheep. When five tornadoes swept through the area in April 2025, their SimpliPHI® battery stack was put to the ultimate test.
"We had been running on battery power for more than 28 hours and there were no issues. In fact, we even took hot showers in the midst of the storms," says Gregg. "The batteries basically powered our entire house for more than a day".
Long-time Houstonians Bret and Becky are used to hurricanes, but Hurricane Beryl in 2024 brought an unexpected challenge: a 30-foot palm tree falling directly onto their 26kW PowerProtect generator.
"The generator sustained exterior damage but continued to operate without issue," Bret notes. Despite the impact, the unit powered two A/C units and allowed them to host neighbors for coffee during the 36-hour outage."
Having served 40 years in the fire department, David knows the dangers of portable generators. Looking for a permanent, safer solution for his retirement, he chose a 20kW standby unit.
"Briggs & Stratton ran so well for me for four days straight after Hurricane Zeta... I didn’t even have to throw out a gallon of milk," David shares.
Retirement for Tim meant moving closer to family, but it also meant dealing with the Texas heat. After a "generator superstore" tried to upsell him, Tim found a local dealer who recommended a right-sized 12kW generator.
"The reliability of the Vanguard engine definitely struck me as really important... We were actually able to help not only ourselves, but our extended family to weather through the [2021] storm," Tim says.
Living in a historic home (parts of which date back to 1812) in the Green Mountains presents unique wiring and weather challenges. Bob and Barbara utilize PHI 3.8kWh batteries to maintain energy autonomy while preserving the picturesque look of their homestead.
"If we lose power, I can get three straight days from the batteries to these essential items. I don’t really think about them much because they don’t make any noise and they’re reliable," says Bob.
For Kevin, the goal was simple: autonomy. In 2023, he took his rural property off the grid using AmpliPHI 3.8kWh batteries housed in weather-resistant cabinets.
"Now that we’re used to having it around, I don’t even think about it. We have a comfort level knowing we don’t have to depend on the utility for power," Kevin remarks.
In rural Tennessee, power outages were more than an inconvenience for Karamaneh; they were a threat to her son’s respiratory health. The constant stress of packing temperature-sensitive medications ended once they installed a standby generator.
"I don't think you can really put a price on not having to worry," Karamaneh says. "It gives the parent of a medically fragile child some peace of mind".
Lee lives hours away from her 83-year-old mother in Texas. After her mother endured a week without power in a tornado-prone area, Lee arranged for a standby generator with a 10-year warranty.
"I really believe the reason she didn't have damage like everyone else and the pipes didn't freeze in the walls is because she had power," Lee reflects after a record-breaking winter storm.
Paul charges his EV almost every day and runs four A/C units in the summer. Despite this high usage, he hasn’t had an electric bill in three years thanks to his solar-plus-battery system.
"I didn’t want to be without power and heat during the winter... even if we briefly lose power, the battery system kicks in within seconds," says Paul.
As a retired mechanical engineer, James wanted a system that was automatic and quiet. He paired a 12kW standby generator with SimpliPHI 6.6 batteries.
"What I love about the batteries is the fact that I don’t even know when the grid is down because the batteries kick in instantaneously," James notes.
We’d love to hear it. Submit your testimonial today and help your neighbors find their own peace of mind.
From palm tree impacts to week-long deep freezes, our systems are built to keep life normal.
Our LFP (Lithium Ferro Phosphate) batteries run cooler and last longer than traditional chemistries.
Customers like Nick and Traci value our domestic engineering and support teams.
