Dell built its headquarters here. You can build power resilience here too.
Median Home
$400K
Median Income
$105K+
Home Sizes
2,000–4,000 sq ft
ZIP
78664 / 78665 / 78681
Round Rock is Austin's tech hub with its own identity. Dell Technologies headquarters, Indeed's major campus, Emerson's offices—this isn't a bedroom community. It's a city where serious tech companies chose to plant their flags. Round Rock ISD is one of the largest and best-rated districts in Central Texas. Kalahari Resorts brought a waterpark. The Premium Outlets brought the shopping. And median home values around $400K have brought families who want the Austin lifestyle without the Austin price tag.
Here's the work-from-home reality: Round Rock has one of the highest concentrations of tech workers in Central Texas. When ERCOT stumbled during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, thousands of Round Rock professionals lost both their heat and their ability to work. The 2023 ice storms repeated the lesson. For someone whose livelihood depends on a stable internet connection and a powered-up workstation, a day without power isn't a day off—it's a day of lost productivity, missed deadlines, and frantic emails typed on a phone at Starbucks.
Round Rock's mix of established neighborhoods and new construction means backup power solutions vary. Older homes near downtown Round Rock may need panel upgrades before installation. Newer communities off 45 and 79 have modern panels ready for battery or generator integration. Natural gas is available in most neighborhoods, keeping generator options open. The combination of reasonable home values and high-income tech workers makes Round Rock one of the strongest markets for backup power in the Austin metro.
What's at stake during an outage:
Dual-income tech households with serious home office setups, gaming systems, smart home platforms, pools, and the AC that keeps a Texas home livable from May through October. When both parents work from home and the kids do online homework, a power outage doesn't affect one person—it shuts down the entire household's productivity.
What's popular in Round Rock: Generators edge out batteries in Round Rock, largely because of the practical value-per-dollar calculation that tech workers appreciate. A 22kW generator on natural gas costs less than a whole-home battery setup and runs indefinitely. But battery systems are popular among the eco-conscious segment, and hybrid systems are growing for homeowners who want the best of both worlds.
Williamson County • Round Rock ISD
Round Rock homes run 2,000 to 4,000 square feet. A 16–22kW generator covers most homes. For battery backup, 1–2 units handle essential circuits, with 3 units for whole-home coverage. Older homes near downtown may need a panel upgrade (200-amp service) before installation. Newer communities typically have modern panels ready to go.
For homes in the $400K range, most Round Rock homeowners invest $10,000 to $20,000 in backup power. That's roughly 3–5% of home value for complete power resilience—a math equation that tech workers tend to appreciate. The 30% federal tax credit on battery components makes hybrid systems more competitive than a pure cost comparison suggests.
A standby generator in Round Rock typically runs $8,000 to $18,000 installed. Most homes need a 16–22kW unit on natural gas. Round Rock's mix of established and newer homes means costs vary—newer homes with modern panels tend toward the lower end. Older homes near downtown may need a panel upgrade, adding $2,000–$4,000 to the project.
Yes. The City of Round Rock and Williamson County require permits for generator installations. Round Rock's building department is experienced with backup power permits and processes them efficiently. Most Round Rock HOAs allow generators with standard placement and screening requirements. Your installer handles all permitting.
For uninterrupted work-from-home power, battery backup provides the fastest switchover—milliseconds, fast enough that your computer never loses power. A single unit keeps a home office and WiFi running for 8–12 hours. For whole-home coverage during extended outages (like Uri), a generator or hybrid system provides indefinite runtime. Many Round Rock tech workers choose hybrid: battery for seamless daily protection, generator for major events.
Round Rock experiences outages from ERCOT grid stress events, severe thunderstorms, and ice storms. Winter Storm Uri (2021) caused multi-day outages across Williamson County. The 2023 ice storms similarly disrupted service. Summer heat events strain the grid annually. Oncor and other utilities serving Round Rock are investing in infrastructure, but ERCOT supply constraints remain a systemic risk.
Yes, but older homes may need a panel upgrade first. Many pre-2000 Round Rock homes have 100- or 150-amp service, which should be upgraded to 200-amp before adding backup power. This adds $2,000–$4,000 to the project but also improves your home's electrical capacity for other upgrades like EV chargers. Your installer will assess your panel during the initial consultation.
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