Generator installation cost in North Dakota
About $11,169 to $15,969 covers installation of a 22 kW whole house generator using natural gas in North Dakota. The hourly wage of $33.87 for electricians is 2% under the US average of $34.37. It sets the $3,000 to $5,400 electrician portion of the price.
Need help deciding if 22 kW is right? Answer three sizing questions.
North Dakota installation prices for each size
Fuel use at half load and prices in North Dakota. For every model, Generac provides a fuel table. Hourly ratings for the 26 kW, 18 kW and 24 kW models don't exceed those of the next smaller size, meaning fuel per hour doesn't increase 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 $13,219 | $1.76/h | $8,719 to $13,719 | $1.69/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,749 to $14,549 | $3.40/h | $10,049 to $15,049 | $3.16/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,569 to $15,369 | $2.95/h | $10,869 to $15,869 | $2.97/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $11,169 to $15,969 | $3.56/h | $11,469 to $16,469 | $4.41/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,589 to $16,389 | $3.54/h | $11,889 to $16,889 | $4.41/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $12,019 to $16,819 | $3.28/h | $12,319 to $17,319 | $3.59/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
How is the 22 kW price broken down in North Dakota?
Labor costs at US average pay come to up to $100 more than at $33.87 an hour, which ranks 26th of 51.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Listed cost for the Generac 22 kW package without the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Difference between Generac's listed prices with and without a switch |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $3,000 to $5,400 | $3,000 to $5,400 | published install ranges, adjusted to the North Dakota hourly wage of $33.87 (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $500 to $2,000 | $800 to $2,500 | The gas line comes from the meter, while the propane line comes from the tank. |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $11,169 to $15,969 | $11,469 to $16,469 | propane leaves out the tank |
What fuel costs in North Dakota
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $17.45 per 1,000 ft³ | $3.56 | $256 |
| Propane | $1.75 a gallon | $4.41 | $318 (182 gal) |
Natural gas costs less in North Dakota. At half load, a 22 kW unit uses $3.56 hourly, compared with $4.41 for propane. For residential gas, this state ranks 15th cheapest of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at North Dakota price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $349 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $698 |
North Dakota outages
In 2025, North Dakota customers went without power for 212 minutes on average, below the US figure of 269. The state ranked 30th highest among 51. Major storms accounted for 65% of it, while ordinary days gave 75 minutes. The worst year in the past ten was 2022, with 678 minutes. The ten-year average was 197, placing 2025 at 15 minutes above it.
Annually since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 212 | 30th | 75 |
| 2024 | 103 | 48th | 87 |
| 2023 | 262 | 25th | 94 |
| 2022 | 678 | 7th | 103 |
| 2021 | 102 | 46th | 88 |
| 2020 | 123 | 43rd | 87 |
| 2019 | 133 | 43rd | 77 |
| 2018 | 111 | 48th | 96 |
| 2017 | 91 | 48th | 70 |
| 2016 | 153 | 36th | 110 |
North Dakota utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana-Dakota Utilities Co | 100,446 | 95 | 0.81 | 117 |
| Northern States Power Co - Minnesota | 96,332 | 88 | 0.55 | 159 |
| Otter Tail Power Co | 60,770 | 575 | 2.03 | 283 |
| Cass County Elec Coop Inc | 60,022 | 300 | 0.77 | 389 |
| Capital Electric Coop, Inc | 22,737 | 56 | 0.40 | 139 |
Otter Tail Power Co customers lacked power for 575 minutes during 2025, compared with 56 minutes for Capital Electric Coop, Inc. The 10.3 to one difference makes your street's utility more important than the 212 minute state figure. Across all utilities, the customer-weighted average customer lost power 1.19 times during the year. That was less often than the 1.35 recorded across the US. Each outage on Montana-Dakota Utilities Co lines averaged 117 minutes, about 1.9 hours. At half load, a 22 kW generator would use $6.93 of gas during that time.
Major disasters FEMA has declared in North Dakota since 2016
Altogether, 14 major disasters were declared: 6 severe storms, 5 floods, 1 winter storm, 1 snowstorm and 1 wildfire. The newest was declared in September 2026, and COVID-19 isn't included. Winter, snow or ice storms made up 2 of them, and a cold-weather kit is what keeps the engine starting. Of these disasters, 1 was a wildfire. Utilities serving fire country also deliberately cut lines during high winds. Such shutoffs never appear as declarations. Because there have been 5 flood declarations, set the generator pad higher than the local flood level. The permit office can give that level for the lot.
Barnes County (8), Dickey County (7), Grand Forks County (7), Kidder County (7), LaMoure County (7), Nelson County (7), Ransom County (7) and Sargent County (7) appeared in the greatest number of declarations.
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | DR-4934 |
| October 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | DR-4895 |
| September 2025 | Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds | DR-4888 |
| December 2024 | Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds | DR-4852 |
| February 2024 | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds | DR-4760 |
| July 2023 | Flooding | DR-4717 |
North Dakota and the states around it
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $11,169 to $15,969 | $33.87 | 212 |
| Minnesota | $11,669 to $17,069 | $38.86 | 182 |
| Montana | $11,169 to $16,069 | $34.58 | 286 |
| South Dakota | $10,669 to $15,069 | $29.8 | 284 |
Of the 3 neighboring states, 1 has a lower installation cost. The lowest figure is South Dakota at $10,669, and the highest is Minnesota at $11,669. Montana had 286 minutes of outages in 2025, compared with 212 here, a wider gap than prices show.
Sources listed: BLS wages (May 2025), gas prices from EIA (March to August 2026), propane prices from EIA (October 26, 2026), outage figures from EIA, EIA-861, FEMA. Every state.