Consumers Expected to Weather More Than Just Storms with Residential Generators, Growing Market by More Than 5 Million Units by 2011

New York, August 24, 2007 — Increasingly affordable and available, the number of portable and standby generators in household use grew more than 30% from 2002 to 2006. Generators are expected to continue their charge through 2011, growing from 3.0 million unit sales in 2006 to more than 7.1 million by 2011, according to The U.S. Market for Residential Generators, a new report from market research publisher SBI.

Massive power outages in the northeastern United States and severe weather powered sales early in the decade. But increased concerns about an aging and fragile power grid, along with greater consumer power demand, are expected to drive sales over the next four years.

The threat of more and longer power outages raises anxiety levels for consumers dependent on continuous electrical service in their homes not only for basic household resources such as the phone, refrigerator, heating/air conditioning, and security systems, but also for home office equipment and in-home healthcare equipment.

SBI forecasts that standby generators and more sophisticated portable generators will lead growth with improved product features, including quieter operation and better aesthetics, expected to contribute toward the standby generator market’s rise from 200,000 unit sales in 2006 to 710,000 units in 2011. Advances in design, marketing, and availability, will drive sales of portable generators from 2.8 million units to 6.4 million over the same period.

“Even without extreme conditions, as consumers become more aware of generators and the need for auxiliary power, the market will grow significantly over the next few years,” notes Cathy Minkler, Associate Editor of SBI. “U.S. exports are also likely to grow, particularly in the Middle East, India, and developing countries in Africa, where central power systems are in their early stages.”

Containing comprehensive data on the U.S. market for portable and standby electrical generators intended for residential use, The U.S. Market for Residential Generators identifies key trends affecting the marketplace and profiles major marketers, along with manufacturers’ strategies for maximizing growth and profitability. The report is available from SBI by clicking: http://www.sbireports.com/Residential-Generators-1281502. It is also available at MarketResearch.com.

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SBI publishes research reports in the industrial, construction, materials, and consumer goods markets. For more information visit http://www.sbireports.com, or contact Tom Ehart at 240-747-3014, or tehart@marketresearch.com.