Power & buildings
Beyond These Stars: How to Connect Power to Buildings
The quick answer
Early power comes from direct adjacency: put the consumer beside a working generator on the same level and check its connection preview. Being close to the generator is not enough.
Connect your first powered building
- Check that the building needs power; the construction menu shows a power icon.
- Place the generator and consumer directly beside one another on the same level.
- Rotate the consumer if needed, keeping its road access intact.
- Choose a fuel the generator can actually obtain.
- Inspect the consumer’s power warning and local inputs after construction.
Use the placement and connection preview instead of judging the gap between the models. A position can be buildable without receiving power.
Still not working?
| Symptom | Next check |
|---|---|
| No connection | Direct adjacency, level and building orientation |
| Connected but no supply | Generator fuel, staff and output space |
| Power is present but production is idle | Enough power for one task cycle, other inputs and workers |
| Generator has stopped | Check whether its Soot output is full |
In v1.0.2244, a generator’s visible range line could show pollution range. Do not use that old circle as proof of a power connection. The v1.0.2246 hotfix changes the selected generator’s line to show power range.
Move to Power Lines later
Electricity can spread through adjacent buildings. Once Power Lines unlock through copper production, they let you connect buildings across a longer route.
For a first Sawmill before you have poles, start with direct adjacency to a Burner Generator or Ore Smelter. Inspect its power input to confirm the connection.