Generator installation cost in Kentucky
In Kentucky, installing a whole house generator rated at 22 kW that runs on natural gas runs about $10,669 to $14,969. Local electricians earn $29.52 an hour, 14% under the US average of $34.37. At that rate, the electrician portion of the price comes to $2,600 to $4,700.
Is 22 kW the right size for your house? Size your house in three questions.
Installed price by size in Kentucky
Fuel use at half load, based on Kentucky prices. Each model has a fuel table from Generac. According to its ratings, the 26 kW, 24 kW and 18 kW models each use no more fuel each hour than the model one size lower. Hourly fuel use doesn't increase in proportion to kW.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $7,919 to $12,219 | $3.07/h | $8,219 to $12,619 | $2.75/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,249 to $13,549 | $5.94/h | $9,549 to $13,949 | $5.13/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,069 to $14,369 | $5.14/h | $10,369 to $14,769 | $4.82/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $10,669 to $14,969 | $6.21/h | $10,969 to $15,369 | $7.18/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,089 to $15,389 | $6.18/h | $11,389 to $15,789 | $7.18/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $11,519 to $15,819 | $5.72/h | $11,819 to $16,219 | $5.84/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
What makes up the 22 kW price in Kentucky?
With electricians earning $29.52 an hour, labor runs up to $800 below the cost at US average pay. Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 and among the lowest rates.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Generac's published price for the 22 kW bundle, minus the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Difference between Generac's price with the switch and the one without it |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $2,600 to $4,700 | $2,600 to $4,700 | Install ranges published, using Kentucky's wage of $29.52 an hour (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $400 to $1,700 | $700 to $2,100 | Gas line connected to the meter; propane line connected to the tank |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $10,669 to $14,969 | $10,969 to $15,369 | propane leaves out the tank |
Kentucky fuel costs
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $30.44 per 1,000 ft³ | $6.21 | $447 |
| Propane | $2.84 a gallon | $7.18 | $517 (182 gal) |
Gas runs cheaper in Kentucky: at half load a 22 kW costs $6.21 an hour, versus $7.18 on propane. Here, residential gas is the 47th cheapest of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Kentucky price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $567 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,134 |
Power outages in Kentucky
Kentucky customers went without power for an average of 396 minutes during 2025. This was above the US figure of 269 and placed Kentucky 10th highest among 51. Major storms accounted for 57% of it, while ordinary days came to 171 minutes. At 862 minutes, 2023 was the worst year of the past ten. The ten-year average was 412 minutes, which 2025 came in 16 minutes under.
Each year since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 396 | 10th | 171 |
| 2024 | 538 | 16th | 146 |
| 2023 | 862 | 7th | 141 |
| 2022 | 346 | 17th | 152 |
| 2021 | 699 | 8th | 130 |
| 2020 | 285 | 28th | 125 |
| 2019 | 204 | 30th | 149 |
| 2018 | 408 | 15th | 147 |
| 2017 | 193 | 33rd | 120 |
| 2016 | 194 | 25th | 139 |
Kentucky utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Utilities Co | 559,439 | 197 | 1.14 | 172 |
| Louisville Gas & Electric Co | 448,013 | 228 | 1.18 | 194 |
| Kentucky Power Co | 160,774 | 911 | 2.62 | 348 |
| Duke Energy Kentucky | 152,376 | 184 | 0.88 | 209 |
| Warren Rural Elec Coop Corp | 76,489 | 476 | 3.21 | 148 |
In 2025, customers of Kentucky Power Co lost power for 911 minutes, compared with 184 for Duke Energy Kentucky. With a 5.0 to one difference, the utility serving your street has more impact than Kentucky's 396 minute figure. On average, each customer lost power 1.86 times during the year across all utilities, customer-weighted. That's more often than the US rate of 1.35. Outages on Kentucky Utilities Co lines averaged 172 minutes, or about 2.9 hours. For a 22 kW generator at half load, that's $17.85 of gas.
Major FEMA disasters in Kentucky since 2016
In all, 20 major disasters have been declared: 11 severe storms, 5 floods, plus 1 ice storm, plus 1 tornado, plus 1 tropical storm and 1 winter storm. The newest came in September 2026, and COVID-19 is not counted. The 20 included 1 tropical or coastal storm. The most recent one was Remnants Of Hurricane Helene, dated November 2024. Such outages run for days. Among them, 2 were winter storms, snow storms or ice storms. With a cold-weather kit, the engine keeps starting. 5 flood declarations have happened. Set the pad for the generator above the local flood level; your permit office can give you that level for the lot.
The most frequently named counties are Clay County (16), Owsley County (16), Lee County (13), Whitley County (13), Johnson County (12), Metcalfe County (12), Powell County (12) and Breathitt County (11).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4937 |
| May 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | DR-4913 |
| May 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | DR-4875 |
| April 2025 | Type: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides | DR-4864 |
| February 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4860 |
| November 2024 | Remnants of Hurricane Helene | DR-4848 |
Kentucky and neighboring states
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $10,669 to $14,969 | $29.52 | 396 |
| Illinois | $12,169 to $18,269 | $44.34 | 146 |
| Indiana | $11,169 to $16,069 | $34.05 | 379 |
| Missouri | $11,169 to $16,169 | $34.77 | 466 |
| Ohio | $11,069 to $15,769 | $33.09 | 206 |
| Tennessee | $10,769 to $15,269 | $30.55 | 228 |
| Virginia | $10,969 to $15,669 | $32.62 | 763 |
| West Virginia | $10,969 to $15,669 | $32.61 | 1,013 |
For this installation, Kentucky has the lowest cost among its neighbors. Illinois starts $1,500 higher. Outage figures show a wider gap than prices. West Virginia recorded 1,013 minutes in 2025, while Kentucky recorded 396.
Data sources: BLS wages (May 2025). For March to August 2026, gas figures come from EIA gas. Propane figures come from EIA propane (October 26, 2026), and outage figures from EIA outages. Other sources are EIA-861, FEMA. All states.