Generator installation cost in Idaho
In Idaho, installing a whole house generator that runs on natural gas and provides 22 kW costs about $10,969 to $15,569. The hourly rate for electricians here is $32.02, which is 7% under the US average of $34.37. That rate is what sets the price line for the electrician, between $2,800 and $5,100.
Not sure if 22 kW is the right fit? Three questions to size up your house.
Installation prices by generator size in Idaho
Idaho prices with fuel use at half load Fuel use doesn't climb in step with kW, because Generac rates the 18 kW model, the 24 kW model and the 26 kW model to burn no more in an hour than the size just below. Generac posts a fuel table for each model.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $8,219 to $12,819 | $1.13/h | $8,419 to $13,219 | $2.61/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,549 to $14,149 | $2.18/h | $9,749 to $14,549 | $4.86/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,369 to $14,969 | $1.89/h | $10,569 to $15,369 | $4.57/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $10,969 to $15,569 | $2.28/h | $11,169 to $15,969 | $6.80/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,389 to $15,989 | $2.27/h | $11,589 to $16,389 | $6.80/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $11,819 to $16,419 | $2.10/h | $12,019 to $16,819 | $5.53/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
What makes up the 22 kW price in Idaho
Idaho labor costs rank 31st of 51 at $32.02 an hour, making labor up to $400 cheaper than at US average pay.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | The 22 kW package's Generac list price, minus the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Gap separating Generac's listings that include the switch from those that don't |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $2,800 to $5,100 | $2,800 to $5,100 | Published installation ranges based on the BLS hourly wage of $32.02 in Idaho |
| Fuel line | $500 to $1,900 | $700 to $2,300 | The meter feeds the gas line, while the tank feeds the propane line. |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $10,969 to $15,569 | $11,169 to $15,969 | propane leaves out the tank |
What fuel costs in Idaho
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $11.18 per 1,000 ft³ | $2.28 | $164 |
| Propane | $2.69 a gallon | $6.80 | $489 (182 gal) |
Gas costs less in Idaho. At half load, a 22 kW unit uses $2.28 an hour for gas, compared with $6.80 for propane. Residential gas prices here rank 3rd cheapest out of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Idaho price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $537 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,074 |
Power outages across Idaho
In 2025, Idaho customers went without power for an average of 291 minutes, above the US figure of 269, ranking 18th highest of 51. Major storms accounted for 51% of it; on ordinary days, outages ran 144 minutes. The worst of the past ten years was 2021, at 438 minutes without power. The ten-year average sits at 228, and 2025 came in 63 minutes higher than that.
Each year since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 291 | 18th | 144 |
| 2024 | 204 | 35th | 153 |
| 2023 | 134 | 37th | 122 |
| 2022 | 167 | 36th | 145 |
| 2021 | 438 | 14th | 138 |
| 2020 | 287 | 27th | 158 |
| 2019 | 155 | 38th | 132 |
| 2018 | 170 | 32nd | 141 |
| 2017 | 254 | 24th | 224 |
| 2016 | 183 | 28th | 158 |
Idaho utility outages for 2025
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Power Co | 636,130 | 171 | 1.03 | 166 |
| Avista Corp | 148,201 | 973 | 1.89 | 515 |
| PacifiCorp | 91,462 | 146 | 1.16 | 126 |
| Kootenai Electric Cooperative | 35,029 | 369 | 1.35 | 273 |
| City of Idaho Falls | 33,875 | 51 | 0.47 | 108 |
In 2025, Avista Corp customers went 973 minutes without power, against 51 for City of Idaho Falls. A 19.2 to one ratio puts more weight on the utility serving your street than on the 291 minute figure for the whole state. Counting every utility and weighting by customer, the average customer had 1.16 outages during the year, less often than the 1.35 seen across the US. Average outage length on Idaho Power Co lines was 166 minutes, or about 2.8 hours. Over that span a 22 kW at half load burns $6.31 in gas.
Major FEMA disasters in Idaho since 2016
Declarations included 3 severe storms, 6 floods and 1 straight-line wind, making 10 major disasters in all. The latest came in June 2026, and COVID-19 is excluded. Because there have been 6 flood declarations, place the generator pad higher than the local flood level. Your permit office can provide that level for the lot.
Counties named in the most of them: Lewis County (3), Clearwater County (3), Idaho County (4), Latah County (4), Shoshone County (4), Benewah County (5), Bonner County (5), Kootenai County (5).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4917 |
| April 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905 |
| June 2024 | Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4789 |
| March 2021 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4589 |
| June 2019 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4443 |
| October 2017 | Flooding | DR-4342 |
Idaho alongside its neighbors
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | $10,969 to $15,569 | $32.02 | 291 |
| Montana | $11,169 to $16,069 | $34.58 | 286 |
| Nevada | $11,369 to $16,469 | $36.4 | 128 |
| Oregon | $12,569 to $19,069 | $47.96 | 302 |
| Utah | $10,869 to $15,369 | $31.39 | 117 |
| Washington | $12,369 to $18,469 | $45.42 | 382 |
| Wyoming | $11,269 to $16,469 | $35.99 | 224 |
Only 1 of 6 neighbors installs for less. Utah comes in lowest at $10,869, and Oregon highest at $12,569. Power outages vary more than prices do: Washington recorded 382 minutes in 2025, compared with 291 here.
Sources: BLS wage data (May 2025), EIA gas data (March to August 2026), EIA propane data (October 26, 2026), EIA outage data, EIA-861, FEMA. All states.