BTW, Janie... These generators are generally called "whole house generators" *except* they are very expensive when you see them at the box stores or order them from like Northern Tool & Hydrolics... Your parents don't need that much generator so they don't need a whole house generator... A 7500 KW should be fine and be in the $1200 range... Make sure it has a Honda engine... Lots of differnt generator manufactureres use Honda engines so that shouldn't be to hard to find...

The Box will be around $100... They will need X number of feet of 6/3/wg (with ground) or 6/2/wg depending on the generator to run from the generator to the teeter-totter box which ain't cheap... I think that 6/2/wg will probably do just fine... That will give you two hots (220 Volts) and a neutral... Ask your electrican about local codes on "standby emergency generator" wiring before you buy...

Oh, an honest electrican should be able to do the entire job (labor only) for around $400...

There... Now my mind is completely emptied out on the issue...

B~