Backup power: say what exactly you’re looking for

Backup power in Canada: what it costs

Updated 4 November 2026

Backup power in Canada costs about CA$120 for a desktop UPS that keeps a computer running, about CA$470 to CA$750 for a portable power station of around 1,000 Wh, and up to about CA$3,300 for a large home power station. These are approximate prices, according to sellers' websites, November 2026. Tell BlaBlaPrice which devices you need to keep on and for how long to get current offers.

Safety rules for generators and installs

Generator safety comes down to two rules: exhaust must never reach indoor air, and a generator must never be back-fed into the grid, so keep portable generators outside. A permanent backup supply must be installed to the applicable standards. UPS battery chargers manufactured from June 13, 2019 are subject to federal energy efficiency regulations, so check the label before you buy.

Winter and the season

Winter in Canada runs from December to February, so buy and test the unit in November, before the cold arrives. Keep batteries indoors in the cold and charge them before a storm.

Apartments, capacity and delivery

If you live in an apartment or condo, Toronto's guidelines for multi-unit residential buildings require at least 2 hours of emergency power for occupant evacuation, which is a building matter rather than a home-unit spec. For your own unit, capacity is in watt-hours (Wh) and output in watts. Ask whether the price includes delivery to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary or Ottawa, and whether installing a whole-home unit is quoted separately.

What to write in your request

Name the devices you must keep on, such as a router, a fridge or medical equipment, the number of hours you need, whether the unit is for indoor or outdoor use, your delivery city and your budget. The category covers generators, portable power stations, inverters, UPS units, solar equipment, batteries and voltage stabilisers, so choose the type first.

BlaBlaPrice is free for buyers. Describe what you need in your own words in the chat, and it asks for the details it is missing. It then looks through sellers' websites and price lists in Canada and shows the prices and businesses it found. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their price, terms and delivery, and your contacts stay hidden until you choose to share them. Start on the home page or read how it works.