Texans still talk about the catastrophic winter storm of February 2021—especially in one local neighborhood. Roads were impassable, so residents were virtually trapped, and families tried to keep warm by wrapping up in blankets and camping out by their fireplaces. Fortunately, Jerry and Dustin Sorensen had recently installed a Generac generator in one of the homes in the neighborhood. When the power failed, the generator, fueled by the home’s natural gas supply, came to life. The gracious homeowner invited his neighbors to his house, where they drank coffee and were able to get warm. Jerry dubbed the home “FEMA Camp Two.” Over the next few months, many other people in the neighborhood saw the wisdom in purchasing generators to provide stand-by electricity.

In past years, residents of southeastern Texas worried about the occasional hurricane or tornado that might leave them without power for a few days. Today, there is more to fear. “Now that the grid has been exposed in the Houston area, people are concerned about keeping the heaters on in their homes,” Jerry says. During the 2021 winter storm, all 254 Texas counties were placed under winter storm and hard freeze warnings; day after day, temperatures stubbornly refused to rise above freezing. It was the coldest weather Texans had experienced in decades, and when the power grid failed, the storm became more than an inconvenience. Tragically, some Texans lost their lives to the storm, both directly and indirectly.

Furthermore, more people work from home than ever before, and most rely on electricity to telecommute. In addition, some people use lifesaving medical equipment that requires electricity. For many such people, owning a generator has become a priority.

Finding a niche

Jerry and his son Dustin always dreamed of owning their own business. At first, they weren’t sure what kind of business they wanted to operate, but during the past ten years, the father-son team worked for companies in the Houston area that supplied several brands of stand-by generators to local customers. During that time, they were most impressed with Generac, a company that makes generators in many sizes, even ones for large homes. Customers, likewise, seemed to prefer Generac: Jerry and Dustin observed that about 90 percent of their clientele chose Generac over other brands.

About six months after the crippling winter storm of 2021, the time seemed right, so Jerry and Dustin decided to pool their resources and carve a niche for themselves by supplying Generac generators to area residents. In March 2022, Texas Generator Solutions, an authorized Generac dealer, opened for business, providing turnkey installation, service and sales in multiple area counties. “We are the solution to backup power,” Dustin says.

Texas Generator Solutions is truly a family-owned and family-operated business. While Dustin takes care of operations, Jerry handles sales. Dustin’s sister Krystal Baker is the company’s office manager. From the start, the family’s goal was to provide friendly, hometown service. “We know every one of our customers,” Krystal says. “They don’t become a ticket in this office. If you mention a name, most people in this office will know who you are talking about. I think customers enjoy the fact that they can call our office, and we know what they’re talking about.”

When Jerry arrives at a home to supply a free, no-obligation quote, he never uses high-pressure sales techniques. Instead, he simply sizes up the house, finds the best location for a generator, conducts a load calculation, and talks to homeowners to see what size generator will fit their needs. While larger homes require more powerful units, some customers elect to use generators for only a fraction of their homes’ electrical appliances, such as air conditioners and heaters, refrigerators, freezers, and television sets. “We can customize the system,” Dustin says. “You can use everything you want, but not everything at the same time.” Even people who live in all-electric homes can take advantage of gas-powered, stand-by power. Texas Generator Solutions has relationships with local companies that can supply homes with propane; some even lease propane tanks.

Rapid and Reliable Service

Customers appreciate the prompt attention they receive from Texas Generator Solutions. Because the company keeps many units in stock, it can provide quick service. While some companies might take months to install a generator, Texas Generator Solutions can usually finish jobs in a few weeks. “You don’t have to wait forever for your generator—not two to four months, but three to four weeks,” Dustin says. In one local neighborhood, he says, two families contracted with companies to install generators. While one family worked with Texas Generator Solutions, the other family chose another company. Even though Texas Generator Solutions’ customer placed their order later, their generator was installed first. Their neighbors, who had already been waiting for two months, canceled their existing order and chose to do business with Texas Generator Solutions instead.

Jerry and Dustin want Texas Generator Solutions to be known for its premier service. “We try to make sure we do everything the right way,” Dustin says, “and one of our goals is to communicate every step of the way.” It must be working, because Jerry and Dustin report that they get many referrals from satisfied customers. Some say they appreciate the company’s attractive pricing (a result of low overhead), as well as its many financing options. Zero percent interest is available for 18-month loans, and with other available loans, customers can finance for up to 11 years.  

Some people might worry about investing in a generator if they think they might later move to another house; however, Dustin says, relocating families have options. If they move to another house in the area, they can simply take the generator with them, and Texas Generator Solutions can facilitate the process. Even if families are relocating to another city or state, they can have Texas Generator Solutions uninstall their unit. When they arrive at their new home, they can have the generator reinstalled there.

Another option is for homeowners to leave their generator in place to make their home more attractive to prospective homebuyers. Jerry and Dustin predict that homeowners can recoup about 75 percent of the cost of their generators in the form of higher sales prices.

Ultimately, Dustin says, a stand-by generator is simply a form of insurance, protecting homeowners from possible power outages in the future, whether caused by a natural disaster or a failed power grid. “You will be one step ahead of that power outage,” he says, and encourages customers not to procrastinate. “There’s no such thing as being too early. You don’t want to wait until it’s too late. There’s no price you can put on a generator during a catastrophe.”

For more information, visit texasgensolutions.com.

13786-B Hwy 105
Conroe, Texas 77304
936.588.9317