Generator installation cost in Arkansas
A natural gas whole house generator rated at 22 kW costs about $10,269 to $14,169 once installed in Arkansas. Here, electricians earn $25.71 each hour. That's 25% under the US average, $34.37. That wage sets the electrician price line, $2,200 through $4,100.
Is 22 kW the right fit for your house? Find your size with three questions.
Installed price in Arkansas by size
Arkansas prices for fuel at half load. A fuel table from Generac covers each model. For its 18 kW, 24 kW and 26 kW units, the hourly limit is no higher than that of the next smaller size, so fuel use doesn't climb in proportion to kW.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $7,519 to $11,419 | $2.89/h | $7,719 to $11,819 | $2.40/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $8,849 to $12,749 | $5.58/h | $9,049 to $13,149 | $4.48/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $9,669 to $13,569 | $4.84/h | $9,869 to $13,969 | $4.21/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $10,269 to $14,169 | $5.84/h | $10,469 to $14,569 | $6.27/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $10,689 to $14,589 | $5.81/h | $10,889 to $14,989 | $6.27/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $11,119 to $15,019 | $5.38/h | $11,319 to $15,419 | $5.10/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
How the 22 kW price breaks down in Arkansas
Labor ranks 51st of 51 at $25.71 an hour and is among the lowest rates. It costs up to $1,400 less than labor priced at the US average wage.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Generac list price of the 22 kW bundle without the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Generac's listing difference when the switch is included or left out |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $2,200 to $4,100 | $2,200 to $4,100 | published install ranges, adjusted to an Arkansas hourly wage of $25.71 (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $400 to $1,500 | $600 to $1,900 | gas line running from the meter; propane line running from the tank |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $10,269 to $14,169 | $10,469 to $14,569 | propane leaves out the tank |
What fuel costs in Arkansas
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $28.64 per 1,000 ft³ | $5.84 | $421 |
| Propane | $2.48 a gallon | $6.27 | $451 (182 gal) |
In Arkansas, gas costs less: a 22 kW at half load runs $5.84 an hour, compared with $6.27 on propane. For residential gas, Arkansas ranks 42nd cheapest of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Arkansas price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $495 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $991 |
Power outages in Arkansas
In 2025, Arkansas customers averaged 475 minutes without power. That was above the US number of 269 and ranked 7th highest of 51. Major storms caused 55% of that; on ordinary days, outages ran 212 minutes. The worst year of the past ten was 2023, when outage time reached 915 minutes. Average outage time over ten years is 502, so 2025 came in 28 minutes under that mark.
Each year since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 475 | 7th | 212 |
| 2024 | 528 | 17th | 202 |
| 2023 | 915 | 5th | 231 |
| 2022 | 438 | 12th | 280 |
| 2021 | 308 | 20th | 199 |
| 2020 | 772 | 8th | 211 |
| 2019 | 451 | 8th | 228 |
| 2018 | 331 | 18th | 214 |
| 2017 | 406 | 13th | 176 |
| 2016 | 401 | 7th | 214 |
Arkansas utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entergy Arkansas LLC | 747,309 | 518 | 2.24 | 231 |
| Southwestern Electric Power Co | 129,162 | 428 | 1.84 | 232 |
| Carroll Electric Coop Corp | 110,307 | 224 | 2.43 | 92 |
| First Electric Coop Corp | 103,674 | 646 | 2.54 | 254 |
| Ozarks Electric Coop Corp | 81,038 | 676 | 1.68 | 402 |
In 2025, Ozarks Electric Coop Corp customers lost power for 676 minutes, compared with 224 minutes for Carroll Electric Coop Corp. At a 3.0 to one spread, the utility serving your street matters more than the statewide figure of 475 minutes. Across all utilities, the customer-weighted average was 2.19 power losses per year, compared with 1.35 across the US. On the Entergy Arkansas LLC network, outages lasted 231 minutes per event on average. That equals about 3.9 hours, or $22.51 in gas for a 22 kW unit at half load.
Major disasters declared by FEMA in Arkansas since 2016
Arkansas had 14 major disaster declarations: 3 tornadoes, 3 floods, 7 severe storms and 1 winter storm. The newest came in May 2025, and COVID-19 isn't included. Of the disasters, 1 involved a winter or ice storm. The engine keeps starting when you use a cold-weather kit. With 3 flood declarations on record, the generator pad should sit above the local flood level. Your permit office can supply that level for the lot.
Counties named in most declarations include Ouachita County (6), Desha County (5), Jackson County (5), Randolph County (5), Searcy County (5), Arkansas County (4), Bradley County (4) and Craighead County (4).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | DR-4873 |
| May 2025 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | DR-4865 |
| May 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding | DR-4788 |
| November 2023 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | DR-4748 |
| April 2023 | Severe Winter Storm | DR-4700 |
| April 2023 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | DR-4698 |
Arkansas alongside its neighbors
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $10,269 to $14,169 | $25.71 | 475 |
| Louisiana | $10,669 to $15,069 | $29.98 | 272 |
| Missouri | $11,169 to $16,169 | $34.77 | 466 |
| Mississippi | $10,469 to $14,669 | $27.88 | 524 |
| Oklahoma | $10,769 to $15,269 | $30.49 | 297 |
| Tennessee | $10,769 to $15,269 | $30.55 | 228 |
| Texas | $10,569 to $14,869 | $28.5 | 211 |
Arkansas has the lowest installation price among neighboring states. Missouri begins $900 above that price.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025), EIA gas data (March to August 2026), EIA propane prices (October 26, 2026), EIA outage records, EIA-861, FEMA. Every state.