Generator installation cost in Delaware
In Delaware, installing a whole house generator that runs on natural gas at 22 kW costs about $11,169 to $15,969. The hourly pay for electricians is $34.02, 1% less than the US average of $34.37; at that wage, the electrician line runs $3,000 to $5,400.
Not certain 22 kW fits? Answer three questions to size your house.
What each size costs to install in Delaware
Half load fuel use, priced for Delaware For every model, Generac posts a fuel table, and the models rated at 18 kW, 24 kW and 26 kW use no more fuel each hour than the size below them, so fuel use per hour doesn't climb in step with kW.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $8,419 to $13,219 | $2.69/h | $8,719 to $13,719 | $3.69/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,749 to $14,549 | $5.19/h | $10,049 to $15,049 | $6.89/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,569 to $15,369 | $4.49/h | $10,869 to $15,869 | $6.47/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $11,169 to $15,969 | $5.42/h | $11,469 to $16,469 | $9.63/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,589 to $16,389 | $5.40/h | $11,889 to $16,889 | $9.63/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $12,019 to $16,819 | $5.00/h | $12,319 to $17,319 | $7.84/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
Which items make up the 22 kW price in Delaware?
Pay here is $34.02 an hour, 25th of 51, so labor runs up to $100 below what US average pay would cost.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | List price Generac shows for the 22 kW bundle, with the switch taken out |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | what separates Generac's listings with the switch from those without it |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $3,000 to $5,400 | $3,000 to $5,400 | published install ranges, worked out with the Delaware hourly wage of $34.02 (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $500 to $2,000 | $800 to $2,500 | the gas line runs from the meter, and the propane line runs from the tank |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $11,169 to $15,969 | $11,469 to $16,469 | propane leaves out the tank |
Delaware fuel costs
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $26.59 per 1,000 ft³ | $5.42 | $391 |
| Propane | $3.81 a gallon | $9.63 | $694 (182 gal) |
Gas runs cheaper in Delaware: at half load a 22 kW burns $5.42 an hour, while propane costs $9.63 an hour. Residential gas prices here sit 40th cheapest of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Delaware price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $762 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,523 |
Delaware outages
In 2025, Delaware customers averaged 104 minutes without power, compared with 269 for the US, and the state ranks 48th highest of 51. Major storms account for 28% of that total, while on ordinary days customers were out 75 minutes. The worst of the past ten years came in 2020, with 272 minutes without power. The ten-year average sits at 129, which puts 2025 25 minutes under it.
Each year since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 104 | 48th | 75 |
| 2024 | 118 | 44th | 67 |
| 2023 | 110 | 43rd | 61 |
| 2022 | 80 | 48th | 66 |
| 2021 | 64 | 49th | 64 |
| 2020 | 272 | 32nd | 85 |
| 2019 | 102 | 46th | 74 |
| 2018 | 136 | 37th | 74 |
| 2017 | 155 | 37th | 83 |
| 2016 | 149 | 37th | 102 |
Delaware utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delmarva Power | 340,680 | 104 | 0.78 | 133 |
| Delaware Electric Cooperative | 120,447 | 112 | 1.48 | 75 |
| City of Newark | 13,486 | 35 | 0.27 | 130 |
| City of Milford | 9,096 | 24 | 0.25 | 98 |
In 2025, customers of Delaware Electric Cooperative lost power for 112 minutes, against 24 minutes for City of Milford. With a 4.6 to one gap, which company serves your street counts for more than the 104 minute statewide number. Each customer averaged 1.35 power losses during the year (all utilities, customer-weighted), a higher rate than the 1.35 across the US. Outages on Delmarva Power lines lasted an average of 133 minutes, about 2.2 hours, or $12.05 in gas for a 22 kW running at half load.
Major disasters FEMA declared in Delaware since 2016
In total, 4 major disasters were declared: 1 snowstorm, 2 hurricanes and 1 winter storm, the latest of them in May 2026, and COVID-19 is not counted. Of the 4 disasters, 2 were tropical or coastal storms, and the most recent was Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in October 2021. Outages from those storms run for days. 2 of them were storms of snow or ice in winter, and a cold-weather kit is what keeps the engine starting.
Kent County (2), New Castle County (2) and Sussex County (2) were named in the most of them.
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | DR-4916 |
| October 2021 | Remnants of Hurricane Ida | DR-4627 |
| October 2020 | Tropical Storm Isaias | DR-4566 |
| March 2016 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | DR-4265 |
Delaware plus its neighbors
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $11,169 to $15,969 | $34.02 | 104 |
| Maryland | $11,369 to $16,469 | $36.28 | 178 |
| New Jersey | $11,869 to $17,669 | $41.68 | 155 |
| Pennsylvania | $11,369 to $16,469 | $36.43 | 413 |
For this install, Delaware costs less than any of its neighbors, and New Jersey begins $700 above it. Outage times vary more than prices do. Pennsylvania logged 413 minutes in 2025, while Delaware logged 104.
Data sources: BLS wages (May 2025), gas prices from EIA (March to August 2026), propane prices from EIA (October 26, 2026), outage data from EIA, EIA-861, FEMA. Every state.