Generator installation cost in Washington
For natural gas, a whole house generator rated at 22 kW costs about $12,369 to $18,469 after installation in Washington. The local hourly wage of $45.42 for electricians is 32% higher than the US average of $34.37. That rate sets the electrician charge of $4,000 to $7,300 within the overall price.
Is 22 kW the right fit? Size your house in three questions.
Installed prices in Washington by size
Washington prices for fuel at half load Each model has a Generac fuel table. According to the ratings for 18 kW, 24 kW and 26 kW, hourly fuel use is no greater than for the next size down and 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 | $9,619 to $15,719 | $2.25/h | $10,019 to $16,419 | $2.65/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $10,949 to $17,049 | $4.34/h | $11,349 to $17,749 | $4.94/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $11,769 to $17,869 | $3.77/h | $12,169 to $18,569 | $4.64/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $12,369 to $18,469 | $4.55/h | $12,769 to $19,169 | $6.91/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $12,789 to $18,889 | $4.52/h | $13,189 to $19,589 | $6.91/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $13,219 to $19,319 | $4.19/h | $13,619 to $20,019 | $5.62/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
How the 22 kW price breaks down in Washington
At US average pay, labor costs up to $1,800 less than at $45.42 an hour, which ranks 2nd of 51 and is among the highest.
| Line, 22 kW | Natural gas | Propane | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | $6,309 | $6,309 | Generac list price for the 22 kW package without the switch |
| Transfer switch | $1,060 | $1,060 | Difference between Generac's prices with and without the switch |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $4,000 to $7,300 | $4,000 to $7,300 | Published installation ranges use Washington's $45.42 hourly rate (BLS). |
| Fuel line | $700 to $2,600 | $1,100 to $3,300 | gas line runs from the meter; propane line runs from the tank |
| Pad and permit | $300 to $1,200 | $300 to $1,200 | composite pad or slab, local fees |
| Installed | $12,369 to $18,469 | $12,769 to $19,169 | propane leaves out the tank |
Fuel prices in Washington
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $22.28 per 1,000 ft³ | $4.55 | $327 |
| Propane | $2.73 a gallon | $6.91 | $497 (182 gal) |
Gas costs less in Washington. At half load, a 22 kW unit costs $4.55 an hour, compared with $6.91 for propane. Residential gas ranks 30th cheapest of 51 here. For propane, the price used is the EIA U.S. average, which is the regional figure covering Washington.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at the U.S. average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $546 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $1,092 |
Power outages in Washington
In 2025, Washington customers lost an average of 382 minutes of power. This was higher than the US figure of 269 and ranked 11th highest of 51. Major storms caused 62% of that time, while ordinary days added 144 minutes. Of the past ten years, 2024 ranked worst with 644 minutes. The ten-year average was 355, leaving 2025 at 27 minutes higher.
Since 2016, year by year
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 382 | 11th | 144 |
| 2024 | 644 | 12th | 157 |
| 2023 | 154 | 35th | 130 |
| 2022 | 404 | 15th | 154 |
| 2021 | 555 | 10th | 151 |
| 2020 | 269 | 33rd | 127 |
| 2019 | 311 | 14th | 106 |
| 2018 | 265 | 24th | 116 |
| 2017 | 311 | 19th | 136 |
| 2016 | 258 | 14th | 121 |
Washington utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puget Sound Energy Inc | 1,258,468 | 580 | 1.60 | 363 |
| City of Seattle | 527,764 | 158 | 1.04 | 152 |
| PUD No 1 of Snohomish County | 390,607 | 343 | 1.74 | 197 |
| Avista Corp | 277,040 | 200 | 0.97 | 206 |
| PUD No 1 of Clark County | 238,063 | 298 | 1.63 | 183 |
Puget Sound Energy Inc customers had no power for 580 minutes during 2025. City of Seattle customers had 158 minutes without power. The 3.7 to one difference makes your local utility more important than the 382 minute statewide figure. For all utilities, customer-weighted figures show 1.48 power losses per average customer during the year. The rate was higher than the 1.35 across the US. Along Puget Sound Energy Inc lines, outages averaged 363 minutes, or about 6.0 hours. That equals $27.46 in gas for a 22 kW generator at half load.
Major disasters in Washington declared by FEMA since 2016
The declarations totaled 17 major disasters, including floods counted at 7, severe storms at 5 and wildfires at 5. The newest was declared in April 2026, while COVID-19 wasn't included. Wildfires accounted for 5 declarations. Utilities in fire-prone areas also shut off lines during high winds, but these shutoffs never appear as declarations. Given 7 flood declarations, put your generator's pad above the flood level that applies locally. The permit office can tell you that level for the lot.
Lewis County (10) appeared in the most declarations, followed by Clallam County (9), Jefferson County (9), Skamania County (9), Wahkiakum County (9), Island County (8), Mason County (8) and Grays Harbor County (7).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | DR-4906 |
| November 2024 | Wildfires | DR-4849 |
| September 2024 | Wildfires | DR-4823 |
| April 2024 | The disaster type was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides. | DR-4775 |
| February 2024 | Wildfires | DR-4759 |
| January 2023 | The disaster type was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides. | DR-4682 |
Washington and its neighboring areas
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $12,369 to $18,469 | $45.42 | 382 |
| Idaho | $10,969 to $15,569 | $32.02 | 291 |
| Oregon | $12,569 to $19,069 | $47.96 | 302 |
Just 1 of 2 neighbors has a lower installation price. Oregon has the highest installation price at $12,569, while Idaho has the lowest at $10,969. The difference in outages is greater than the difference in price: Oregon recorded 302 minutes in 2025, compared with 382 here.
The sources are BLS wages (May 2025), EIA gas data (March to August 2026), EIA propane data (October 26, 2026), EIA outage data, EIA-861, FEMA. All states.