Generator installation cost in Iowa
In Iowa, installing a whole house generator rated 22 kW on natural gas costs about $10,769 through $15,269. Electricians here earn $30.38 an hour, which is 12% under the US average of $34.37. This rate determines the $2,700 to $4,900 electrician portion of the price.
Are you unsure whether 22 kW fits your house? Size your house in three questions.
Iowa installed cost by size
Iowa prices for fuel at half load. Every model has a Generac fuel chart. Hourly burn ratings for 18 kW, 24 kW and 26 kW don't exceed the rating of the next smaller model, so the hourly fuel rate doesn't climb directly with kW.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $8,019 to $12,519 | $1.89/h | $8,319 to $12,919 | $1.69/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,349 to $13,849 | $3.65/h | $9,649 to $14,249 | $3.16/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,169 to $14,669 | $3.16/h | $10,469 to $15,069 | $2.97/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $10,769 to $15,269 | $3.81/h | $11,069 to $15,669 | $4.42/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,189 to $15,689 | $3.80/h | $11,489 to $16,089 | $4.42/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $11,619 to $16,119 | $3.52/h | $11,919 to $16,519 | $3.60/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
What the 22 kW price covers in Iowa
The $30.38 hourly rate ranks 39th of 51, making labor up to $600 less costly than at US average pay.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Generac's list price for the 22 kW bundle without the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Difference between Generac's prices with and without the switch |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $2,700 to $4,900 | $2,700 to $4,900 | Published installation ranges based on Iowa's hourly wage of $30.38 (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $400 to $1,800 | $700 to $2,200 | The gas line runs from the meter; 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 | $10,769 to $15,269 | $11,069 to $15,669 | propane leaves out the tank |
Iowa fuel cost
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $18.70 per 1,000 ft³ | $3.81 | $275 |
| Propane | $1.75 a gallon | $4.42 | $318 (182 gal) |
In Iowa, gas costs less: a 22 kW generator at half load has a fuel cost of $3.81 an hour, compared with $4.42 on propane. Among all 51 areas, residential gas here ranks 20th cheapest.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Iowa price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $349 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $698 |
Power outages in Iowa
Iowa customers averaged 183 minutes without power in 2025. The US figure was 269, and Iowa ranked 36th highest of 51. Major storms accounted for 56% of the outage minutes, while ordinary days resulted in 80 minutes. During the last ten years, 2020 had the most outage time at 1,067 minutes. The current ten-year average is 227 minutes, so 2025 was 44 minutes lower.
Since 2016, every year
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 183 | 36th | 80 |
| 2024 | 200 | 36th | 84 |
| 2023 | 84 | 48th | 61 |
| 2022 | 95 | 44th | 78 |
| 2021 | 138 | 38th | 81 |
| 2020 | 1,067 | 6th | 86 |
| 2019 | 126 | 44th | 84 |
| 2018 | 115 | 45th | 93 |
| 2017 | 128 | 42nd | 104 |
| 2016 | 137 | 41st | 96 |
Iowa utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidAmerican Energy Co | 750,247 | 205 | 1.19 | 172 |
| Interstate Power and Light Co | 500,416 | 89 | 0.82 | 108 |
| Corridor Energy Cooperative | 32,966 | 135 | 1.77 | 76 |
| City of Ames | 27,665 | 21 | 0.39 | 54 |
| Eastern Iowa Light & Power Coop | 24,200 | 92 | 0.93 | 99 |
In 2025, MidAmerican Energy Co customers lost power for 205 minutes, compared with 21 minutes for City of Ames. The 9.7 to one difference means your street's utility has more effect than the 183 minute state figure. For all utilities combined on a customer-weighted basis, power loss averaged 1.14 times per customer during the year, less than the US rate of 1.35. MidAmerican Energy Co outages averaged 172 minutes, or about 2.9 hours, requiring $10.95 of gas to run a 22 kW at half load.
Major FEMA disasters in Iowa since 2016
The total includes 16 major disaster declarations: 9 for severe storms, 5 for floods, 1 for a tornado and 1 for a winter storm. The latest was in September 2026, and COVID-19 is not counted. A winter or ice storm accounted for 1; with a cold-weather kit, the engine keeps starting. Because 5 declarations involved floods, put the generator pad higher than the local flood level. Your permit office can provide that level for your lot.
The most frequently named locations are Mitchell County (7), Floyd County (6), Howard County (6), Polk County (6), Winneshiek County (6), Wright County (6), Allamakee County (5) and Buena Vista County (5).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | Severe Storms and Flooding | DR-4942 |
| May 2025 | Severe Winter Storm | DR-4870 |
| June 2024 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | DR-4796 |
| May 2024 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | DR-4784 |
| May 2024 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | DR-4779 |
| August 2023 | Flooding | DR-4732 |
Iowa and its neighboring states
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $10,769 to $15,269 | $30.38 | 183 |
| Illinois | $12,169 to $18,269 | $44.34 | 146 |
| Minnesota | $11,669 to $17,069 | $38.86 | 182 |
| Missouri | $11,169 to $16,169 | $34.77 | 466 |
| Nebraska | $10,769 to $15,269 | $30.75 | 543 |
| South Dakota | $10,669 to $15,069 | $29.8 | 284 |
| Wisconsin | $11,269 to $16,369 | $35.49 | 264 |
Only 1 of 6 neighbors installs for less. South Dakota has the lowest cost at $10,669, while Illinois has the highest at $12,169. Outage times vary more than installation prices. Nebraska recorded 543 minutes of outages in 2025, compared with 183 minutes in Iowa.
Source data: BLS wages (May 2025). Gas figures come from EIA gas (March to August 2026). Propane figures come from EIA propane (October 26, 2026). Outage data comes from EIA outages. Other references are EIA-861, FEMA. All states.