Building In Backup Power
If you are building in Southern California, diesel generator installation is something that you might choose to look into during the building process itself, rather than waiting until afterward to have one installed. Then, you can have your home wired so that your emergency power supply is ready and waiting in the event of an emergency. It is best to work with a company who also provides So Cal diesel generator maintenance so that you also know who to turn to for generator maintenance, repairs, replacement parts, etc.
Part of owning machinery is keeping it well tuned, so in effect, it is very important that you be ready and willing to keep up with the needs of a diesel generator- you can't just let it sit around for years and then expect it to work in an emergency. Think of it like a car in those respects.