Standby and on-site power estimates, from the generator pad to the load bank test
A generator line on the schedule hides a lot of work: a concrete pad, fuel storage, exhaust and silencers, sound enclosure, feeders, transfer switches and a witnessed load test. Our estimators quantify the generation system as a complete package, sizing feeders to the rated kW and kVA, counting every transfer switch and fuel component, and carrying the NFPA 110 acceptance testing that owners expect.
- Turnaround
- 24–48 hours
- Divisions
- 26 · 48
- Line items
- 12
What a generation estimate includes
Electrical power generation estimating prices systems that keep a facility running when the grid does not. The core is the engine generator, sized in kW and kVA, with a diesel or natural gas engine, control panel, batteries, block heater and a skid or enclosed housing. Paralleling switchgear, automatic transfer switches, load banks and annunciators tie one or many units into a coordinated system.
Around the equipment sits a long list of installation work: housekeeping pads or elevated platforms, sub-base or day tanks, double-wall fuel tanks and piping, exhaust piping, silencers and thimbles, ventilation louvers, vibration isolation, grounding and conduit.
Feeders are sized for generator output and transfer switch ratings, and often run in large copper or aluminum parallel sets.
Commissioning matters as much as installation. NFPA 110 requires an acceptance test, typically a load bank test at 100 percent for a defined duration, along with factory witness testing and a startup report. We include testing, training and utility interconnection requirements for CHP and microgrid systems, so you price the complete package.
Scope of takeoff
Power generation quantities we price
Measured from one-line diagrams, equipment schedules, site plans and fuel system drawings.
- 01
Engine generator setsEA / KW
Diesel and natural gas standby generators from 20 kW to 3,000 kW with controllers and enclosures
Generator schedule and one-line diagram
- 02
Paralleling switchgearEA
Generator paralleling and load management gear with breakers, sync controls and PLC
Emergency one-line and gear elevations
- 03
Automatic transfer switchesEA
Open, closed-transition and bypass-isolation ATS from 100 to 4,000 amps
Transfer switch schedule
- 04
Fuel storage and deliveryGAL / EA
Sub-base tanks, day tanks, underground tanks, fuel pumps, piping, leak detection and polishing
Fuel system drawings and runtime requirement
- 05
Exhaust and ventilationLF / EA
Exhaust piping, critical-grade silencers, thimbles, radiator ducts and intake louvers
Mechanical and generator room plans
- 06
Generator pads and enclosuresCY / EA
Reinforced concrete pads, sound-attenuated and weatherproof enclosures, bollards and fencing
Site plan and equipment details
- 07
Feeders and conduitLF
Parallel feeder sets, duct banks, pull boxes and generator disconnect or breaker
One-line feeder schedule
- 08
Load banks and testingLS / HRS
Rental load bank, cable, 4-hour acceptance test per NFPA 110 and fuel for testing
Specification testing requirements
- 09
Controls and remote monitoringEA
Remote annunciators, generator controllers, BAS integration and alarm interfaces
Controls drawings and points list
- 10
Combined heat and power equipmentEA / LS
CHP prime movers, heat recovery piping, absorption chillers and gas train
Mechanical and electrical CHP plans
- 11
Microgrid and utility interconnectionEA / LS
Microgrid controller, protective relays, utility metering and interconnect switchgear
Interconnection single-line and utility requirements
- 12
Rigging and installation laborHRS / LS
Crane lifts, setting, alignment, wiring and startup hours by generator size
Rigging plan and productivity rates
Estimate types
What type of electrical power generation estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Standby generator system bid
Full pricing for generator, ATS, fuel, feeders, pad, enclosure and testing on a single building or campus emergency power system.
- Accuracy
- ±5%
- Turnaround
- 48 hours
Paralleling plant estimate
Multiple generators with switchgear, load management, fuel systems and redundancy for hospitals, data centers and critical facilities.
- Accuracy
- ±6%
- Turnaround
- 72 hours
CHP and microgrid budget
Prime movers, heat recovery, controls and interconnection allowances for campus energy projects that need early budgeting.
- Accuracy
- ±10-12%
- Turnaround
- 72 hours
Generator replacement and add-on pricing
Demolition, rigging, new unit installation, transfer switch changes and acceptance tests for facilities swapping aging equipment.
- Accuracy
- ±5%
- Turnaround
- 24-48 hours
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
- 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
- 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
- 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
98%
takeoff accuracy on awarded projects
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Estimators who read emergency one-lines and know how kW, kVA and amp ratings translate into feeder size and breaker cost.
Generators priced from dealer quotes with enclosure, sub-base tank, silencer and warranty scope clearly stated.
Fuel systems quantified with tank size, runtime hours, piping and leak detection, not lumped as allowance.
Exhaust, ventilation and louver scope coordinated, between mechanical and electrical to avoid double counting.
NFPA 110 acceptance testing, load banks and fuel for testing included as explicit lines.
Paralleling and transfer switch counts reconciled, against the one-line and the load schedule.
Deliverables
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
- XLSX
Estimate workbook
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
- PDF
Marked-up plans
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
- XLSX
Material procurement list
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
- XLSX
Labor hours by task
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
- PDF
Assumptions and exclusions log
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
- PDF
Bid summary sheet
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Blog
Insights from the estimating desk
Practical guidance on bidding, takeoffs and protecting margin.
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“The conduit and wire takeoff matched what my foreman pulled from the drawings almost to the foot. Labor hours were realistic for our crews. It is the first outsourced estimate I did not have to redo.”
Dana Okafor
Owner, Okafor Electric · Houston, TX
“Change-order pricing came back the same day with quantities tied to the original contract set. The owner approved without a single question.”
Rob Castellano
Senior PM, Castellano Construction Management · Newark, NJ
“We were turning down bids because our two in-house estimators were buried. LEEDS gave us division-by-division numbers in 48 hours that leveled cleanly against our sub quotes. We bid 40% more work last quarter and our hit rate went up, not down.”
Marcus Whitfield
Chief Estimator, Whitfield Commercial Builders · Charlotte, NC
FAQ
Electrical Power Generation Estimating FAQs
What does a generator estimate usually include?
We price the generator set, enclosure, controls, transfer switches, feeders, concrete pad, fuel tank and piping, exhaust and ventilation, grounding, testing and startup. Utility coordination, permits and training are listed separately so you can include them or reassign them as the bid requires.
Do you handle NFPA 110 acceptance testing?
Yes. We carry the load bank rental, cables, fuel, technician hours and witness testing the specification requires. NFPA 110 sets expectations for installation acceptance, and we review the project requirements to capture the correct duration and load steps.
Can you estimate paralleled generator plants?
We price paralleling switchgear, generator breakers, controls, load shedding and the multiple fuel and exhaust systems that redundant plants require. Equipment is priced from vendor quotes when available, and each assumption is documented for review.
Is combined heat and power or microgrid work included?
We cover CHP prime movers, heat recovery, controls and interconnection equipment, along with microgrid controllers and protective relays. Early-stage projects are given range budgets that tighten as the one-line and utility requirements develop.
Do you include fuel storage and piping?
Fuel systems are quantified from drawings, including sub-base or day tanks, bulk storage, transfer pumps, double-wall piping, leak detection and polishing. Tank size is checked against required runtime so the estimate does not undersize the system.
How long does a power generation estimate take?
A single standby generator system is typically completed in 48 hours. Paralleling plants, CHP or microgrid scopes take about 72 hours, depending on the drawings. We confirm timing after reviewing the electrical and mechanical sheets.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Ready for a electrical power generation estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.