Generator installation cost in South Carolina
Installed in South Carolina, a whole house generator running on natural gas at 22 kW costs about $10,569 to $14,769. The electrician line of the price runs between $2,500 and $4,500, a figure set by the $28.38 hourly wage earned here, 17% below the US average ($34.37).
Not sure if 22 kW is the right fit? Size your house with three questions.
Installed price in South Carolina by size
Half load fuel figures with South Carolina prices. For each model, Generac lists fuel figures in a table. Models rated 18 kW, 24 kW and 26 kW consume no more fuel each hour than the next smaller model. As a result, hourly fuel use doesn't climb in proportion to kW.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $7,819 to $12,019 | $2.90/h | $8,119 to $12,419 | $3.59/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,149 to $13,349 | $5.61/h | $9,449 to $13,749 | $6.70/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $9,969 to $14,169 | $4.86/h | $10,269 to $14,569 | $6.29/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $10,569 to $14,769 | $5.87/h | $10,869 to $15,169 | $9.36/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $10,989 to $15,189 | $5.84/h | $11,289 to $15,589 | $9.36/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $11,419 to $15,619 | $5.41/h | $11,719 to $16,019 | $7.62/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
22 kW price in South Carolina: what's included
The hourly rate here is $28.38, ranking 46th of 51 and among the lowest, so labor costs up to $1,000 less than it would at US average pay.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | List price of the Generac 22 kW bundle, minus the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | What separates Generac's listings with the switch from those without it |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $2,500 to $4,500 | $2,500 to $4,500 | install ranges that are published and set to the $28.38 an hour South Carolina wage (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $400 to $1,700 | $700 to $2,100 | from the meter for gas; from the tank for propane |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $10,569 to $14,769 | $10,869 to $15,169 | propane leaves out the tank |
What fuel costs in South Carolina
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $28.75 per 1,000 ft³ | $5.87 | $422 |
| Propane | $3.70 a gallon | $9.36 | $674 (182 gal) |
In South Carolina, gas is the cheaper fuel: each hour of a 22 kW set at half load runs $5.87, compared with $9.36 on propane. For residential gas, this state is 43rd cheapest of 51. For propane, the EIA Lower Atlantic average applies, the regional figure that covers South Carolina.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at the Lower Atlantic average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $740 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,480 |
Power outages in South Carolina
In 2025, South Carolina customers averaged 153 minutes without power, which was below the US figure of 269. The state held the 42nd highest rank out of 51. Major storms accounted for 32% of that time. During ordinary days, outages lasted 103 minutes. Of the last ten years, 2024 was worst, with 3,155 minutes. Averaged over ten years, the figure is 715, so 2025 came in 562 minutes under it.
Each year since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 153 | 42nd | 103 |
| 2024 | 3,155 | 1st | 116 |
| 2023 | 170 | 32nd | 127 |
| 2022 | 302 | 22nd | 115 |
| 2021 | 123 | 41st | 101 |
| 2020 | 333 | 23rd | 121 |
| 2019 | 338 | 10th | 106 |
| 2018 | 489 | 11th | 139 |
| 2017 | 387 | 14th | 119 |
| 2016 | 1,699 | 1st | 122 |
South Carolina utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc | 835,280 | 131 | 1.34 | 98 |
| Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | 738,436 | 220 | 1.26 | 174 |
| South Carolina Public Service Authority | 215,561 | 43 | 0.69 | 62 |
| Duke Energy Progress | 180,575 | 119 | 1.14 | 104 |
| Berkeley Electric Coop Inc | 135,213 | 114 | 1.38 | 82 |
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC customers lost power for 220 minutes in 2025, while South Carolina Public Service Authority customers lost 43. With a 5.1 to one spread, the utility that serves your street counts for more than the 153 minute statewide figure. On average, a customer lost power 1.26 times during the year (all utilities, customer-weighted), fewer times than the 1.35 seen across the US. For Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc lines, the average outage ran 98 minutes, about 1.6 hours, which is $9.56 of gas at half load for a 22 kW.
Major FEMA disasters in South Carolina since 2016
Declared disasters include 2 severe storms and 6 hurricanes, along with 1 flood, plus 1 tropical storm, plus 1 winter storm. In all that's 11 major disasters declared, and the most recent came in April 2026. COVID-19 is not included. Of the 11, 7 were tropical or coastal storms, the latest being Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024, and those outages run for days. Of those storms, 1 was a winter or ice storm, and a cold-weather kit keeps your engine starting.
Named in most of them: Colleton County (8), Hampton County (7), Berkeley County (8), Jasper County (7), Orangeburg County (8), Georgetown County (7), Barnwell County (7), Bamberg County (7).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | DR-4908 |
| January 2025 | Severe Storms and Flooding | DR-4858 |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm Debby | DR-4835 |
| September 2024 | Hurricane Helene | DR-4829 |
| November 2022 | Hurricane Ian | DR-4677 |
| May 2020 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds | DR-4542 |
South Carolina plus its neighbors
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $10,569 to $14,769 | $28.38 | 153 |
| Georgia | $10,669 to $14,969 | $29.37 | 269 |
| North Carolina | $10,469 to $14,569 | $27.33 | 192 |
Of the 2 neighbors, 1 installs for less. The lowest figure belongs to North Carolina at $10,469, while Georgia has the highest at $10,669. Price isn't the only difference because outages vary more. In 2025, Georgia logged 269 minutes without power, while the figure here was 153.
Sources: EIA propane (October 26, 2026), EIA gas (March to August 2026), EIA outages, EIA-861, FEMA, BLS wages (May 2025). All states.