Guide
What to include in a generator rental quote
A generator rental quote should name the load it will serve, the unit and its output, the rental period, delivery and pickup, cabling and connection work, fuel and refueling, service visits, and what the customer provides on site. Anything the quote leaves out becomes a question on the job, usually after the unit is already running.
Start from the load, not the unit
Before you pick a generator, write down what it will power: the equipment or building, voltage and phase, the largest motor that has to start, and whether the unit is the main source of power or a standby that only runs when utility power fails. Add the hours and days it will run. Those answers size the unit, the cabling and the fuel plan, and they let the customer check that you quoted the job they have. If you need the equipment itself, Zebrix Group Inc. also rents generators in Texas.
Generator rental in Texas from Zebrix Group Inc. (opens in new tab)
The lines every quote needs
- The unit: output rating, voltage, phase and fuel type, with any approved substitute
- The rental period, the billing basis and what happens if the job runs long
- Delivery, setup, pickup and who unloads and places the unit
- Cables, distribution and connection work, and who makes each connection
- Fuel: who supplies it, the tank size, the refueling schedule and access for the fuel truck
- Service visits, on-call response and who to call when the unit stops
- What the customer provides: a level pad, clear access, permits and site contacts
- Exclusions, written out, so nothing is assumed
Say who handles grounding and connections
OSHA lets a portable generator's frame serve as the ground only when it supplies equipment mounted on the generator or cord-and-plug equipment through its own receptacles, with the metal parts and receptacle grounding terminals bonded to the frame. Otherwise a grounding electrode, such as a driven ground rod, is required. A generator that powers a structure through a transfer switch must be connected to a grounding electrode system, and the transfer switch must be approved for the use and installed by a qualified electrician. Your quote should say who supplies the ground rod and the transfer switch connection, and who makes it.
Plan placement and fuel before delivery
OSHA's safety guidance calls for 3 to 4 feet of clear space on all sides of a portable generator and above it, keeping it away from doors, windows and vents, and shutting it down to cool before refueling. Put the placement in the quote. Fuel matters past the generator too: EPA's spill prevention rule can apply when a site's aboveground oil storage totals more than 1,320 gallons and a spill could reach waters, counting containers of 55 gallons or more, and EPA guidance includes temporary storage and construction sites. Note the tank sizes so the site owner can check whether their spill plan covers your fuel.
Note the Texas air authorization
Texas permits generator sets used only for portable, emergency or standby service by rule, under 30 TAC 106.511, provided annual operating hours do not exceed 10% of the normal annual operating schedule of the primary equipment. Standby means used as a substitute for other equipment, not in addition to it. The rule needs no registration or fee, but records showing compliance must be kept on site. If a unit will be the main power source for a long job, state the expected run hours and ask the site owner which air authorization applies.
Build the quote in GeneratorIQ
GeneratorIQ quotes generator rentals and service with your company defaults and pricing profiles, numbers each quote automatically, saves drafts and full quote history, and prints or exports the finished quote. When the generator is part of a larger bid, send the reviewed scope to a GC 360 estimate so it lands with the rest of the job.
Questions
- Does a rented generator always need a ground rod?
- No. Under OSHA's rule the frame can serve as the ground when the generator only supplies equipment mounted on it or cord-and-plug equipment through its own receptacles, with everything bonded to the frame. Otherwise, and whenever it powers a structure through a transfer switch, a grounding electrode such as a ground rod is required.
- Does a temporary generator need a Texas air permit?
- A generator used only for portable, emergency or standby service is permitted by rule under 30 TAC 106.511 if annual operating hours stay within 10% of the primary equipment's normal schedule. No registration or fee is required, but records must be kept. Other uses may need a different authorization from TCEQ.
- Who is responsible for the fuel spill plan?
- EPA's spill prevention rule makes the facility owner or operator responsible for the plan when the rule applies, which starts above 1,320 gallons of aboveground oil storage. List the fuel tank sizes on the quote so they can include your equipment.