Generator installation cost in Massachusetts
If you install a 22 kW whole house generator that uses natural gas in Massachusetts, expect about $11,669 to $17,169 for the generator and installation. Local electricians make $39.21 an hour, 14% above the $34.37 US average. That wage sets the price's electrician line, $3,400 to $6,300.
Does 22 kW fit your home? Choose the right size in three questions.
What installation costs look like by size in Massachusetts
Half load fuel use, with prices from Massachusetts. Generac lists fuel rates for every model. For 18 kW, 24 kW and 26 kW options, hourly fuel use is no greater than for the next smaller size, so it doesn't rise in step with kW.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $8,919 to $14,419 | $3.06/h | $9,219 to $15,019 | $3.61/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $10,249 to $15,749 | $5.91/h | $10,549 to $16,349 | $6.73/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $11,069 to $16,569 | $5.12/h | $11,369 to $17,169 | $6.32/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $11,669 to $17,169 | $6.18/h | $11,969 to $17,769 | $9.40/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $12,089 to $17,589 | $6.15/h | $12,389 to $18,189 | $9.40/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $12,519 to $18,019 | $5.70/h | $12,819 to $18,619 | $7.66/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
Cost breakdown for 22 kW in Massachusetts
Labor runs up to $800 above US average pay, since $39.21 an hour ranks 10th of 51, one of the highest rates.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | List price of the Generac 22 kW bundle, without the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | the difference between Generac's listing with the switch and the listing without it |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $3,400 to $6,300 | $3,400 to $6,300 | ranges published for installs, tied to the Massachusetts hourly wage of $39.21 (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $600 to $2,300 | $900 to $2,900 | 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 | $11,669 to $17,169 | $11,969 to $17,769 | propane leaves out the tank |
What fuel costs in Massachusetts
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $30.31 per 1,000 ft³ | $6.18 | $445 |
| Propane | $3.72 a gallon | $9.40 | $677 (182 gal) |
Gas costs less in Massachusetts: running a 22 kW at half load on gas comes to $6.18 an hour, while propane runs $9.40. For residential gas, this state ranks 45th cheapest of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Massachusetts price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $743 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,487 |
Power outages in Massachusetts
In 2025, customers in Massachusetts averaged 122 minutes without power. The US figure was 269, and the state ranks 46th highest of 51. Of that total, 38% came from major storms, while on ordinary days the number was 76 minutes. Of the last ten years, 2018 was the worst, at 865 minutes. The ten-year average sits at 285, and 2025 ran 162 minutes under it.
Every year from 2016 on
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 122 | 46th | 76 |
| 2024 | 104 | 47th | 77 |
| 2023 | 265 | 22nd | 84 |
| 2022 | 166 | 37th | 84 |
| 2021 | 528 | 12th | 88 |
| 2020 | 224 | 35th | 64 |
| 2019 | 244 | 25th | 68 |
| 2018 | 865 | 4th | 81 |
| 2017 | 179 | 35th | 73 |
| 2016 | 149 | 38th | 92 |
Massachusetts utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSTAR Electric Company | 1,463,349 | 113 | 0.81 | 140 |
| Massachusetts Electric Co | 1,361,506 | 133 | 1.00 | 133 |
| City of Taunton | 39,801 | 64 | 1.41 | 45 |
| Fitchburg Gas & Elec Light Co | 31,034 | 74 | 1.08 | 69 |
| Town of Reading | 30,886 | 50 | 0.48 | 105 |
In 2025, Massachusetts Electric Co customers went 133 minutes without power, while Town of Reading saw 50 minutes. Which utility serves your street matters more than the state's 122 minute figure, and it does so by 2.6 to one. Weighted by customers, all utilities together left customers without power 0.90 times in the year, less often than the 1.35 seen across the US. Outages on NSTAR Electric Company lines averaged 140 minutes, or about 2.3 hours, equal to $14.40 in gas for a 22 kW generator at half load.
Major disasters declared by FEMA in Massachusetts since 2016
Of the 5 major disasters declared, 2 were snowstorms, 1 a flood, 1 a severe storm and 1 a winter storm. The latest came in June 2026, and COVID-19 is not counted. Winter, snow or ice storms made up 3 of them. With a cold-weather kit, the engine keeps starting.
Suffolk County (2) appears in the largest number of them.
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | DR-4919 |
| May 2024 | Severe Storms and Flooding | DR-4780 |
| April 2022 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | DR-4651 |
| July 2018 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | DR-4379 |
| June 2018 | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding | DR-4372 |
Massachusetts and the states next door
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $11,669 to $17,169 | $39.21 | 122 |
| Connecticut | $11,369 to $16,769 | $37.21 | 186 |
| New Hampshire | $10,969 to $15,469 | $31.63 | 151 |
| New York | $11,869 to $17,469 | $40.8 | 247 |
| Rhode Island | $11,269 to $16,369 | $35.65 | 183 |
| Vermont | $11,269 to $16,269 | $35.27 | 251 |
Install cost is lower in 4 of the 5 neighbors. At $10,969, New Hampshire comes in lowest, while New York at $11,869 is highest. Outages vary more than prices: in 2025, Vermont logged 251 minutes, while here the figure was 122.
Data from: BLS wages (May 2025), EIA propane data (October 26, 2026), EIA gas data (March to August 2026), EIA outage records, EIA-861, FEMA. Every state.