When it comes to stand by power, the whole house automatic generator still reigns king. When it comes to safety, reliability, ease of use, durability, maintenance, noise levels and efficiency, there just isn’t any competition out there. It just comes with a hefty price tag.

With the typical whole house automatic stand by landing somewhere in the $10,000 to $20,000 range, the portable option starts looking a lot better to some folks.

Being in the Midwest means inclement weather. Spring brings thunderstorms, Winter brings ice and snow - and tornadoes are always a possibility year round. If you live in Kansas you might want to think about alternative power options like wind and hydro to keep your lights on in the event of power loss.