Generator installation cost in Montana
In Montana, a natural gas 22 kW whole house generator has an installed cost of about $11,169 to $16,069. The hourly rate for local electricians is $34.58, which is 1% above the $34.37 average in the US. That rate sets the $3,000 to $5,500 electrician portion of the price.
Is 22 kW the right fit? Assess your house in three questions.
Installed price in Montana by size
Montana prices, with fuel at half load. Generac provides a fuel table for every model. The 24 kW and 26 kW models, along with the 18 kW model, have hourly fuel ratings no higher than those for the next smaller size, so hourly fuel use 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 | $8,419 to $13,319 | $1.06/h | $8,719 to $13,819 | $2.11/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,749 to $14,649 | $2.05/h | $10,049 to $15,149 | $3.94/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,569 to $15,469 | $1.77/h | $10,869 to $15,969 | $3.70/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $11,169 to $16,069 | $2.14/h | $11,469 to $16,569 | $5.51/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,589 to $16,489 | $2.13/h | $11,889 to $16,989 | $5.51/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $12,019 to $16,919 | $1.97/h | $12,319 to $17,419 | $4.49/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
How the 22 kW price breaks down in Montana
Labor costs match the US average at $34.58 an hour, which ranks 23rd of 51.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Generac's 22 kW bundle list price without the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Difference between Generac's listed prices with and without the switch |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $3,000 to $5,500 | $3,000 to $5,500 | The published installation ranges use Montana's $34.58 hourly wage (BLS) as their basis. |
| Fuel line | $500 to $2,000 | $800 to $2,500 | 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 | $11,169 to $16,069 | $11,469 to $16,569 | propane leaves out the tank |
Fuel costs in Montana
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $10.49 per 1,000 ft³ | $2.14 | $154 |
| Propane | $2.18 a gallon | $5.51 | $397 (182 gal) |
Natural gas costs less in Montana. At half load, a 22 kW generator uses $2.14 an hour for gas compared with $5.51 for propane. For residential gas, this state ranks 1st cheapest of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Montana price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $436 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $872 |
Montana outages
Montana customers spent an average of 286 minutes without power in 2025, compared with 269 for the US. For minutes without power, Montana ranked 19th of 51. Major storms caused 53% of that time. On ordinary days, customers lost power for 135 minutes. Among the past ten years, 2024 produced the worst result, at 342 minutes. The ten-year average stood at 217, leaving 2025 at 69 minutes above that figure.
Each year from 2016 onward
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 286 | 19th | 135 |
| 2024 | 342 | 23rd | 152 |
| 2023 | 114 | 42nd | 114 |
| 2022 | 225 | 27th | 140 |
| 2021 | 252 | 23rd | 143 |
| 2020 | 275 | 31st | 136 |
| 2019 | 166 | 36th | 122 |
| 2018 | 135 | 38th | 118 |
| 2017 | 219 | 30th | 161 |
| 2016 | 156 | 34th | 129 |
Montana utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NorthWestern Energy LLC | 383,135 | 125 | 1.10 | 114 |
| Flathead Electric Coop Inc | 79,942 | 886 | 2.29 | 387 |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities Co | 27,906 | 146 | 1.23 | 119 |
| Missoula Electric Coop, Inc | 17,426 | 1,332 | 2.40 | 555 |
| Fergus Electric Coop, Inc | 7,137 | 480 | 3.03 | 158 |
In 2025, customers of Missoula Electric Coop, Inc lost power for 1,332 minutes, compared with 125 minutes for NorthWestern Energy LLC. Your street's utility matters more than the state's 286 minutes, at 10.6 to one. The customer-weighted average across all utilities was 1.33 power losses per customer during the year, compared with 1.35 across the US. NorthWestern Energy LLC lines had average outages lasting 114 minutes, about 1.9 hours. The gas needed by a 22 kW generator at half load during that time is $4.06.
Major disasters designated by FEMA in Montana since 2016
The declarations total 17: floods 8, severe storms 3, straight-line wind events 3, tornado 1, wildfire 1 and winter storm 1. The most recent was declared in May 2026; COVID-19 is not included. Among the events, 1 was a winter or ice storm. Using a cold-weather kit, the engine keeps starting. Of these, 1 involved a wildfire. In fire-prone areas, utilities also deliberately cut lines during high winds, but those shutoffs never appear in declaration records. With 8 flood declarations, keep the generator's pad above the local flood level; the permit office can supply that level for the lot.
The counties named most often are Park County (5), Blaine County (4), Carbon County (4), Pondera County (4), Stillwater County (4), Treasure County (4), Valley County (4) and Daniels County (3).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds | DR-4915 |
| May 2026 | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds | DR-4914 |
| April 2026 | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902 |
| April 2026 | Severe Storms and Flooding | DR-4901 |
| September 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | DR-4887 |
| November 2024 | Severe Storm and Straight-Line Winds | DR-4847 |
Neighboring areas and Montana
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $11,169 to $16,069 | $34.58 | 286 |
| Idaho | $10,969 to $15,569 | $32.02 | 291 |
| North Dakota | $11,169 to $15,969 | $33.87 | 212 |
| South Dakota | $10,669 to $15,069 | $29.8 | 284 |
| Wyoming | $11,269 to $16,469 | $35.99 | 224 |
Among the 4 neighbors, 2 have lower installation costs. Installation costs are lowest in South Dakota at $10,669 and highest in Wyoming at $11,269.
Data sources: BLS wages (May 2025), gas data from EIA (March to August 2026), propane data from EIA (October 26, 2026), outage data from EIA, EIA-861, FEMA. All states.