SMU's campus has backup generators. Your home next door probably doesn't. Let's fix that.
Median Home
$2.4M
Median Income
$180K+
Home Sizes
2,500–7,000 sq ft
ZIP
75205 / 75225
University Park shares a zip code and a school district with Highland Park—but the housing stock has its own personality. You've got everything from original 1940s brick Tudors on Lovers Lane to complete tear-down rebuilds pushing 6,000+ square feet along Bryn Mawr and Hillcrest. Median home values sit around $2.4 million, and the pace of renovation never seems to slow down.
Here's what makes University Park uniquely vulnerable: the same mature tree canopy that makes the Park Cities beautiful also drops limbs on power lines during every significant weather event. Combine that with aging underground infrastructure in some blocks, and you get outage patterns that are hyperlocal. Your block loses power while the street behind you stays lit. Maddening, but fixable.
The demographic here leans heavily toward dual-income professional households—lawyers, doctors, finance, consultants—many of whom work from home at least part of the week. When the power goes out, it's not just the AC shutting off. It's a missed Teams call, a VPN drop during a client presentation, or a kid losing their virtual school connection. Backup power in University Park isn't a luxury. It's business continuity.
What's at stake during an outage:
Home offices demanding uninterrupted connectivity, HVAC systems keeping renovated homes comfortable, security systems, pool equipment, and the smart home tech that comes standard in every Park Cities renovation. The WiFi going down mid-workday is the modern equivalent of the car not starting.
What's popular in University Park: Battery backup dominates in University Park for the same reasons as Highland Park: tight lots, close neighbors, and homeowners who value quiet and aesthetics. Silent wall-mounted batteries don't disturb the neighbor's dinner party. If your home has been recently renovated with a modern 200+ amp panel, adding batteries is plug-and-play simple.
Dallas County • Highland Park ISD
University Park homes generally range from 2,500 to 7,000 square feet. Most need 2–3 battery units for whole-home coverage, or a 20–24kW standby generator. Renovated homes with modern electrical panels are ready for battery installation. Original homes may need panel upgrades first—a common and worthwhile investment that also increases your home's resale value in the Park Cities market.
For homes in the $2.4 million range, most University Park homeowners spend $15,000 to $35,000 on backup power. Panel upgrades for older homes add $3,000 to $6,000. Many homeowners combine the panel upgrade with battery installation during a broader home renovation—smart sequencing.
A standby generator in University Park runs $10,000 to $24,000 installed, depending on home size and existing electrical infrastructure. The 20–24kW range covers most homes here. Panel upgrades for pre-renovation homes can add $3,000–$6,000. Many UP homeowners prefer battery systems instead, avoiding noise and placement challenges on tighter lots.
Yes. The City of University Park requires building and electrical permits for generator and battery installations. Generator placement must meet setback requirements, and noise levels are regulated. Battery installations typically face fewer restrictions. Your installer handles all permitting as part of the installation process.
The Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ Battery, and FranklinWH are all solid choices for University Park homes. The best fit depends on your panel configuration, whether you have or plan to add solar, and how much of your home you want covered. Most 3,000–5,000 sq ft Park Cities homes do well with 2–3 units.
The Park Cities area experiences frequent localized outages, particularly during storm events. The mature tree canopy—oaks and pecans along Hillcrest and throughout the neighborhood—is beautiful but creates vulnerability during wind and ice events. DFW overall has seen outages increase 35% over the past five years.
If your University Park home still has its original electrical panel (100-amp or 150-amp service), yes—an upgrade to 200-amp or 400-amp service is recommended before installing any backup power system. This is especially common in homes built before 1980. The upgrade typically costs $3,000–$6,000 and is money well spent regardless, as it supports modern electrical loads and increases home value.
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