Generator installation cost in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, installing a 22 kW whole house generator for natural gas runs about $11,269 to $16,369. Electricians here make $35.65 an hour, 4% higher than the $34.37 US average. That rate sets the electrician line in the price, from $3,100 through $5,700.
Unsure about 22 kW? Find the size for your house in three questions.
What each size costs to install in Rhode Island
Fuel figures at half load, using Rhode Island prices. For each model, Generac lists fuel figures in a table. The 18 kW and 24 kW units, plus the 26 kW model, are rated at no more per hour than the size below, so the fuel used each hour doesn't climb in step with kW.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $8,519 to $13,619 | $1.85/h | $8,819 to $14,119 | $3.99/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,849 to $14,949 | $3.58/h | $10,149 to $15,449 | $7.45/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,669 to $15,769 | $3.10/h | $10,969 to $16,269 | $7.00/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $11,269 to $16,369 | $3.74/h | $11,569 to $16,869 | $10.41/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,689 to $16,789 | $3.72/h | $11,989 to $17,289 | $10.41/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $12,119 to $17,219 | $3.45/h | $12,419 to $17,719 | $8.48/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
What makes up the 22 kW price in Rhode Island
Labor runs up to $200 above US average pay, since Rhode Island pays $35.65 an hour and ranks 18th of 51.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Generac bundle list price for 22 kW, minus the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Generac's listings with the switch and without it differ by this much |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $3,100 to $5,700 | $3,100 to $5,700 | Published install ranges use the $35.65 hourly Rhode Island wage (BLS). |
| Fuel line | $500 to $2,100 | $800 to $2,600 | 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 | $11,269 to $16,369 | $11,569 to $16,869 | propane leaves out the tank |
Rhode Island fuel costs
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $18.34 per 1,000 ft³ | $3.74 | $269 |
| Propane | $4.12 a gallon | $10.41 | $750 (182 gal) |
Gas costs less in Rhode Island. At half load, a 22 kW costs $3.74 an hour on gas, compared with $10.41 on propane. Residential gas prices here rank 18th cheapest of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Rhode Island price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $823 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,646 |
Power outages in Rhode Island
Rhode Island customers lost an average of 183 minutes of power in 2025. This was below the US figure of 269 and ranked 37th highest among 51. Major storms caused 67% of the outage time, while normal days brought 60 minutes. Of the last ten years, 2017 was the worst, at 728 minutes. Averaged over those ten years, the figure is 320, so 2025 came in 137 minutes below it.
Every year beginning in 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 183 | 37th | 60 |
| 2024 | 104 | 46th | 61 |
| 2023 | 105 | 45th | 52 |
| 2022 | 82 | 47th | 63 |
| 2021 | 449 | 13th | 69 |
| 2020 | 548 | 13th | 69 |
| 2019 | 237 | 27th | 68 |
| 2018 | 595 | 8th | 65 |
| 2017 | 728 | 7th | 59 |
| 2016 | 169 | 33rd | 69 |
Rhode Island utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Narragansett Electric Co | 514,651 | 183 | 0.96 | 191 |
In the EIA reliability file for 2025, The Narragansett Electric Co stands as the single Rhode Island utility listed. Its 183 minutes therefore applies to nearly every home here. The yearly average was 0.96 power losses per customer across all utilities, customer-weighted, versus 1.35 across the US. An outage on The Narragansett Electric Co lines averaged 191 minutes, about 3.2 hours. Running a 22 kW at half load during that time cost $11.88 in gas.
Major FEMA disasters in Rhode Island since 2016
There were 4 major disaster declarations in all: 3 severe storms and 1 snowstorm. The latest was declared in March 2024, and COVID-19 is excluded. 1 of the disasters was a winter storm or ice storm. A cold-weather kit is what keeps the engine starting.
Kent County was named in the most declarations, with 3.
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Severe Storms and Flooding | DR-4766 |
| March 2024 | Severe Storm and Flooding | DR-4765 |
| January 2024 | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes | DR-4753 |
| May 2022 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | DR-4653 |
Rhode Island and neighboring states
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $11,269 to $16,369 | $35.65 | 183 |
| Connecticut | $11,369 to $16,769 | $37.21 | 186 |
| Massachusetts | $11,669 to $17,169 | $39.21 | 122 |
Rhode Island costs less than its neighboring states for this install, and Massachusetts begins $400 above that.
Sources: EIA natural gas (March to August 2026), BLS wages (May 2025), EIA propane prices (October 26, 2026), EIA outage data, EIA-861, FEMA. All states.