power source question

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I need an electrian to come out and run a power source to the bldg I'm about to build.  We haven't had a call back yet but hubby brought up getting a generator.  I told him I'd rather have an outlet.  Does it really matter? Do you know what the cost is I'm looking at?Thanks in advance.Laura MM 180Chop SawDewalt grinderhelpful husband
Reply:Outlet will be cheaper in the long run.  Just make sure the wire run is big enough for what you are going to use and maybe more in the future.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Thank you.Laura MM 180Chop SawDewalt grinderhelpful husband
Reply:David is correct as usual...avoid the fuel bill unless you go mobile.Anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT
Reply:While your at it see that the building can be run off the generator if there is a power failure from storms and other related bullcrap......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Unless you have a -need- for a generator, the outlet will typically be less expensive pretty quickly.But a generator -is- handy for mobile or power-outage situations.  But routine running of a generator to make electricity is typically much-much-much more expensive than getting electricity from an outlet.The cost depends.  It depends on how much and how far and how many.  It could range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
Reply:This has come up a bunch of times lately, so Lets look at the economics. Note that all numbers will vary with time and location...Lets start by ignoring the up-front and maintainence costs of a generator, but solely look at fuel. A small generator is less efficient than a large one, and the 6500W Honda inverter  genrators are about the most efficient on the market right now in portable. They run at just about 1gal of fuel per hour at 5.5KW. That is (presuming $2.50 per gallon) $2.50/5.5KWH, or about 46cents per KWH (higher cost per KWH at lower loads). In NJ, I pay about 17 cents per KWH (when all of the items and surcharges are added up, no matter what the load), so to make a generator competative, I need to save 29 cents per KWH somewhere else. If I am using 100KWH per month, my commercial bill will be $29 less than my fuel costs, or about $350 a year. This means that to break even over one year, the installation of utility power must be at least $350 more than the cost of the generator and maintainance on it. Over two years, $700 more. Five years, $1750 more. It gets worse with time.The generator costs about $3000 up front, so if you look at a five year period (optimistic for the life of the generator if it is getting this much run time) the commercial service needs to cost at least $5000. The more power you use, the worse it is. It only makes economic sense if you need very LITTLE power.
Reply:I agree with everyone else and just want to amplify what David said, I would build in extra capacity for future use.  I would defiantly have 220 run and a sub panel in the new building so you can add circuits on your own later.  Also think about phone or intercom wire you may need out there and throw it in the trench before its buried.