Generator installation cost in Vermont
Natural gas powers a 22 kW whole house generator, which costs about $11,269 to $16,269 after installation in Vermont. Here, electricians earn $35.27 per hour. That rate is 3% above the US mean of $34.37 and produces an electrician charge of $3,100 to $5,600.
Is 22 kW the right size? Answer three questions to size your house.
Installed prices by size in Vermont
Vermont prices for fuel at half load. A fuel table for each model comes from Generac. At 18 kW, 26 kW and 24 kW, the rated burn per hour stays at no more than the next size down, 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 | $8,519 to $13,519 | $2.48/h | $8,819 to $14,019 | $3.81/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,849 to $14,849 | $4.78/h | $10,149 to $15,349 | $7.11/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,669 to $15,669 | $4.14/h | $10,969 to $16,169 | $6.68/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $11,269 to $16,269 | $5.00/h | $11,569 to $16,769 | $9.94/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,689 to $16,689 | $4.98/h | $11,989 to $17,189 | $9.94/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $12,119 to $17,119 | $4.61/h | $12,419 to $17,619 | $8.10/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
What the 22 kW price covers in Vermont
Labor here is paid $35.27 an hour, 21st of 51, so it runs up to $100 above the US average.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Generac's listed price for the 22 kW bundle without the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Difference between Generac's prices with and without the switch |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $3,100 to $5,600 | $3,100 to $5,600 | published install ranges, adjusted to the Vermont hourly wage of $35.27 (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 $16,269 | $11,569 to $16,769 | propane leaves out the tank |
Vermont fuel cost
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $24.52 per 1,000 ft³ | $5.00 | $360 |
| Propane | $3.93 a gallon | $9.94 | $716 (182 gal) |
In Vermont, gas costs less: $5.00 per hour for a 22 kW at half load, compared with $9.94 for propane. Residential gas ranks 35th cheapest of 51 here.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Vermont price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $786 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,572 |
Power outages in Vermont
During 2025, Vermont customers averaged 251 minutes without power. That total was lower than the US figure of 269; among 51, it ranked 26th highest. Major storms were behind 40% of that time, and on ordinary days it was 151 minutes. The worst year among the past ten was 2017, with 1,792 minutes without power. The ten-year average was 618 minutes, so 2025 came in 366 minutes below it.
Each year since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 251 | 26th | 151 |
| 2024 | 896 | 9th | 232 |
| 2023 | 486 | 13th | 204 |
| 2022 | 915 | 5th | 179 |
| 2021 | 215 | 27th | 215 |
| 2020 | 158 | 37th | 158 |
| 2019 | 334 | 11th | 170 |
| 2018 | 930 | 3rd | 358 |
| 2017 | 1,792 | 3rd | 186 |
| 2016 | 199 | 23rd | 199 |
Vermont utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Mountain Power Corp | 276,985 | 265 | 1.75 | 151 |
| Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc | 40,952 | 251 | 2.06 | 122 |
Customers of Green Mountain Power Corp lost power for 265 minutes in 2025, compared with 251 minutes for Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc. The 2 largest utilities have a ratio of 1.1 to one, so they're close together. This makes the 251 minute state figure a fair guide. Across all utilities, the customer-weighted average customer lost power 2.06 times during the year. That's more often than the 1.35 average across the US. Outages on Green Mountain Power Corp lines averaged 151 minutes each, roughly 2.5 hours, and running a 22 kW at half load over that stretch costs $12.61 in gas.
Major FEMA disasters in Vermont since 2016
There were 14 major disaster declarations in all, including 8 severe storms and 6 floods. The latest was in September 2024, and COVID-19 is not included. Given 6 flood declarations, raise the generator pad higher than the local flood level; the permit office can give that level for the lot.
The counties named most often were Lamoille County (9), Franklin County (5), Addison County (6), Washington County (7), Orange County (9), Essex County (9), Orleans County (9) and Chittenden County (7).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4826 |
| September 2024 | Severe Storms and Flooding | DR-4816 |
| August 2024 | Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4810 |
| April 2024 | Severe Winter Storm | DR-4770 |
| March 2024 | Severe Storm and Flooding | DR-4762 |
| October 2023 | Severe Storms and Flooding | DR-4744 |
Vermont, plus its neighbors
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $11,269 to $16,269 | $35.27 | 251 |
| Massachusetts | $11,669 to $17,169 | $39.21 | 122 |
| New Hampshire | $10,969 to $15,469 | $31.63 | 151 |
| New York | $11,869 to $17,469 | $40.8 | 247 |
Among 3 neighbors, 1 installs for less. New Hampshire comes in lowest at $10,969, whereas New York reaches the top at $11,869.
The information comes from BLS wages (May 2025), EIA natural gas (March through August 2026), EIA propane (October 26, 2026), EIA outage information, EIA-861, FEMA. Every state.