Generator installation cost in Virginia
A natural gas 22 kW whole house generator costs about $10,969 to $15,669 once installed in Virginia. Here, electricians earn $32.62 hourly, 5% less than the US average of $34.37. That rate sets the electrician charge within the $2,800 to $5,200 price range.
Not sure if 22 kW is the right fit? Three questions to size your house.
Installed prices in Virginia by generator size
Virginia prices with fuel use at half load. Each Generac model has a published fuel table. The hourly ratings for 18 kW, 24 kW, and 26 kW don't exceed those of the next smaller model, so fuel use by the hour doesn't track kW increases.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $8,219 to $12,919 | $2.57/h | $8,519 to $13,419 | $3.68/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,549 to $14,249 | $4.97/h | $9,849 to $14,749 | $6.87/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,369 to $15,069 | $4.31/h | $10,669 to $15,569 | $6.45/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $10,969 to $15,669 | $5.20/h | $11,269 to $16,169 | $9.60/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,389 to $16,089 | $5.17/h | $11,689 to $16,589 | $9.60/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $11,819 to $16,519 | $4.79/h | $12,119 to $17,019 | $7.82/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
How the 22 kW price breaks down in Virginia
Labor costs can be up to $300 less than they are at US average pay. The hourly rate of $32.62 ranks 29th of 51.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Generac's list price for the 22 kW bundle, minus the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Amount separating Generac's listed prices with and without the switch |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $2,800 to $5,200 | $2,800 to $5,200 | Published installation ranges based on Virginia's $32.62 hourly wage (BLS) |
| Fuel line | $500 to $1,900 | $800 to $2,400 | The meter supplies the gas line, and the tank supplies the propane line. |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $10,969 to $15,669 | $11,269 to $16,169 | propane leaves out the tank |
Virginia fuel costs
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $25.49 per 1,000 ft³ | $5.20 | $374 |
| Propane | $3.79 a gallon | $9.60 | $691 (182 gal) |
At half load, a 22 kW generator costs $5.20 an hour for gas in Virginia. Propane costs $9.60 an hour. Here, residential gas ranks 39th cheapest out of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Virginia price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $759 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,518 |
Power outages in Virginia
Virginia customers lost an average of 763 minutes of power in 2025. This was higher than the US figure of 269 and ranked 2nd among 51. Major storms caused 67% of the lost time, while ordinary days accounted for 250 minutes. The worst of the last ten years was 2018, when outages reached 1,134 minutes. Since the ten-year average is 647, the 2025 figure was 116 minutes higher.
All years since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 763 | 2nd | 250 |
| 2024 | 962 | 8th | 245 |
| 2023 | 293 | 20th | 240 |
| 2022 | 1,108 | 1st | 342 |
| 2021 | 798 | 7th | 263 |
| 2020 | 338 | 21st | 251 |
| 2019 | 478 | 6th | 285 |
| 2018 | 1,134 | 2nd | 308 |
| 2017 | 279 | 22nd | 218 |
| 2016 | 318 | 10th | 220 |
Virginia utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Electric & Power Co | 2,675,735 | 307 | 1.78 | 172 |
| Appalachian Power Co | 553,079 | 1,116 | 2.36 | 473 |
| Rappahannock Electric Coop | 184,314 | 428 | 2.50 | 171 |
| Northern Virginia Elec Coop | 179,398 | 94 | 0.98 | 96 |
| Shenandoah Valley Elec Coop | 101,226 | 391 | 2.78 | 141 |
In 2025, Appalachian Power Co customers lost power for 1,116 minutes, compared with 94 minutes for Northern Virginia Elec Coop. Your street's utility matters more than the state's 763 minute figure, at 11.8 to one. Customers lost power an average of 2.58 times during the year across all utilities, based on customer weighting. That's more often than the US rate of 1.35. Virginia Electric & Power Co lines had average outages of 172 minutes, or about 2.9 hours, with a 22 kW generator at half load consuming $14.93 in gas.
Major disasters declared by FEMA in Virginia since 2016
The declarations included 3 hurricanes and 3 severe storms. There was also 1 flood, 1 ice storm and 1 snowstorm, plus 1 tropical storm. Altogether, 10 major disasters were declared, with the most recent in April 2025. COVID-19 was excluded. Tropical or coastal storms made up 4 of the 10 disasters. The latest was Tropical Storm Helene in October 2024, and their outages run for days. Snow, ice and winter storms made up 2 of them, and a cold-weather kit keeps your engine starting.
Appomattox County (5), Charlotte County (5), Floyd County (5), Pittsylvania County (5), Amelia County (4), Buchanan County (4), Cumberland County (4) and Franklin County (4) appeared in the most declarations.
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding | DR-4863 |
| October 2024 | Tropical Storm Helene | DR-4831 |
| September 2022 | Flooding and Mudslides | DR-4674 |
| March 2022 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | DR-4644 |
| October 2021 | Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4628 |
| May 2021 | Severe Winter Storms | DR-4602 |
Virginia and the areas that neighbor it
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $10,969 to $15,669 | $32.62 | 763 |
| District of Columbia | $11,969 to $17,869 | $42.72 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $10,669 to $14,969 | $29.52 | 396 |
| Maryland | $11,369 to $16,469 | $36.28 | 178 |
| North Carolina | $10,469 to $14,569 | $27.33 | 192 |
| Tennessee | $10,769 to $15,269 | $30.55 | 228 |
| West Virginia | $10,969 to $15,669 | $32.61 | 1,013 |
Of the 6 neighboring areas, 3 have lower installation costs. North Carolina has the lowest cost at $10,469, while District of Columbia has the highest at $11,969. Outage times vary more than prices. West Virginia recorded 1,013 minutes in 2025, compared with 763 minutes here.
Data sources: BLS wages (May 2025), EIA propane (October 26, 2026), EIA gas (March to August 2026), EIA outage data, EIA-861, FEMA. Every state.