On Sun, 19 Dec 2010 01:37:37 -0800 (PST), Gerry
wrote:

*Snip*


No autostart and no auto transfer switch. Never felt like it was
needed because just about anyone can hit a start button and run
extension cords. Had neighbors who were real proud of their nat gas
generators during Katrina 9 day outage get real squeamish when they
got their $2k nat gas bills at the end of the month. I was just as
comfortable and used about $200 worth of gasoline. Have not had to use
mine since then but hear theirs crank and run every week for an hour
or so. Their initial investment was about 2.5 times mine. I talked the
the gas company when I was considering a nat gas genset and they told
me that I would also have to run a new gas service because the normal
residential would not be able to feed a 13K genset. Not saying it is
the same everywhere, just repeating what I was told. I'm in south
Louisiana Good luck!

Rated fuel consumption on a Generac 14kw is 240 cu.' per hour @ full
load, 150 @ half load. I'm running mine on propane which is 2.8/2.2
gal./hr. Around here the price of natural gas & propane are about the
same per BTU-

http://www.heritagegas.com/residenti...ial-rates.html

which is probably a lot higher than your part of the world.

At "half" consumption nine days running time would set me back ~$650
bucks. Of course shutting it down when not needed wouud reduce that
by a goodly amount.

I suggest your neighbours get thier meter checked, seems to be running
a bit "high".

H.