Lake Travis is gorgeous until the power goes out and your boat lift, pool pump, and AC all stop at once.
Median Home
$700K
Median Income
$183K
Home Sizes
2,500–5,500 sq ft
ZIP
78734 / 78738
Lakeway is where Austin's professionals go when they want lake life without giving up career ambitions. Lake Travis waterfront, Lakeway Resort & Spa, multiple golf communities, and Lake Travis ISD schools that pull families from all over. Homes range from $700K condos near the marina to multi-million dollar waterfront estates with private docks. It's the kind of place where your weekend involves a boat, a grill, and zero interest in worrying about the power grid.
But worry you should. The Hill Country terrain that makes Lakeway beautiful also makes it vulnerable. Power lines wind through hilly, wooded terrain where ice storms and wind events take them down more frequently than in flat suburban areas. Winter Storm Uri in 2021 hit Lakeway hard—some neighborhoods went four days without power. The 2023 ice storms caused similar multi-day outages. And when your home depends on a well pump, a lake water irrigation system, boat lift motors, and pool equipment, losing power means losing more than just the lights.
Lakeway's 39-minute distance from downtown Austin also means you're further from utility restoration priority zones. When crews are stretched thin, urban cores get restored first. Lakeway waits. A backup power system turns that wait from a crisis into a minor footnote—your pool stays filtered, your boats stay lifted, your AC keeps running, and your lake house continues being the place everyone wants to be.
What's at stake during an outage:
Boat lifts, pool pumps, outdoor kitchen equipment, whole-home AC across 3,000+ square feet, well pumps (for some properties), security systems, and the entertainment systems that make lake life what it is. When you're hosting 20 people for a lake weekend and the power drops, backup power is the difference between a great host and an awkward apology.
What's popular in Lakeway: Generators are king in Lakeway. The lake lifestyle means high power draw (boat lifts, pool pumps, outdoor systems) and the Hill Country's storm exposure means outages can last days, not hours. Natural gas is available in most Lakeway neighborhoods, making standby generators practical. Hybrid systems are popular for waterfront homes where homeowners want both instant switchover and extended runtime.
Travis County • Lake Travis ISD
Lakeway homes range from 2,500 to 5,500 square feet, but the power load is often higher than the square footage suggests due to pool equipment, boat lifts, and outdoor entertainment systems. A 22–24kW generator handles most homes. For waterfront estates with heavy outdoor loads, 26kW+ units are common. Battery setups need 2–3 units for standard homes, but may not provide enough runtime for multi-day Hill Country storm outages.
For lake homes in the $700K range, most Lakeway homeowners invest $12,000 to $28,000 in backup power. Generator installations are most common given the need for extended runtime during storm events. The 30% federal tax credit on battery systems makes hybrid setups—generator for runtime, battery for instant switchover—increasingly competitive.
A standby generator in Lakeway typically runs $10,000 to $24,000 installed. Most homes need a 22–24kW unit, though waterfront properties with boat lifts and extensive pool equipment may need 26kW+. Natural gas is available in most Lakeway neighborhoods. Propane is an option for properties without natural gas service—your installer can help size the propane tank for your expected runtime needs.
Yes. The City of Lakeway requires building and electrical permits for generator installations. Lakeway also has noise ordinances that affect generator placement—your installer should ensure compliance. If you're in a golf or lakefront community with an HOA, architectural review may also be required. Battery and solar installations have their own permit requirements.
Absolutely. A properly sized generator (typically 24kW+) can handle your boat lift, pool pump, pool heater, and all other household loads simultaneously. Battery systems can also power pool equipment, though extended runtime for high-draw motors like boat lifts may require a hybrid approach. Your installer will calculate your total load including outdoor equipment.
Lakeway's Hill Country terrain makes it more susceptible to outages than flat suburban areas. Power lines run through wooded, hilly terrain where ice storms, wind events, and falling trees cause more frequent disruptions. Winter Storm Uri (2021) and the 2023 ice storms caused multi-day outages in Lakeway. Pedernales Electric Co-op serves most of Lakeway—while it's well-managed, it still depends on ERCOT supply.
Very good. Lakeway's Hill Country elevation provides strong solar exposure, and many homes have south- or west-facing roof areas ideal for panels. Solar + battery systems are growing in popularity, especially for homeowners who want to offset energy costs while maintaining backup capacity. Lake Travis ISD area homeowners increasingly combine solar with a generator for the complete package.
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