Generator installation cost in Wisconsin
Installing a 22 kW whole house generator for natural gas in Wisconsin costs about $11,269 to $16,369. Here, electricians earn $35.49 an hour, which is 3% higher than the US average of $34.37. This wage determines the $3,100 to $5,700 electrician portion of the price.
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Installed prices in Wisconsin by size
Wisconsin prices with fuel at half load Generac lists hourly fuel use for every model. Ratings for 26 kW, 24 kW and 18 kW units limit hourly consumption to that of the next smaller size. Fuel use each hour therefore doesn't rise in proportion to kW.
| Size | Natural gas, installed | Gas at half load | Propane, installed | Propane at half load | Fuel figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $8,519 to $13,619 | $1.50/h | $8,819 to $14,119 | $1.95/h | Generac Guardian 10 kW |
| 14 kW | $9,849 to $14,949 | $2.89/h | $10,149 to $15,449 | $3.63/h | Generac Guardian 14 kW |
| 18 kW | $10,669 to $15,769 | $2.50/h | $10,969 to $16,269 | $3.41/h | Generac Guardian 18 kW |
| 22 kW | $11,269 to $16,369 | $3.02/h | $11,569 to $16,869 | $5.08/h | Generac Guardian 22 kW |
| 24 kW | $11,689 to $16,789 | $3.01/h | $11,989 to $17,289 | $5.08/h | Generac Guardian 24 kW |
| 26 kW | $12,119 to $17,219 | $2.79/h | $12,419 to $17,719 | $4.13/h | Generac Guardian 26 kW |
What makes up the 22 kW price in Wisconsin
Labor at $35.49 an hour ranks 20th of 51 and may cost up to $200 more than at the US average rate.
| 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 listed prices with and without the switch |
| Electrician: switch, wiring, start-up | $3,100 to $5,700 | $3,100 to $5,700 | The published installation ranges are adjusted to Wisconsin's hourly wage of $35.49 (BLS). |
| Fuel line | $500 to $2,100 | $800 to $2,600 | The gas line starts at the meter; the propane line starts at 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 |
What fuel costs in Wisconsin
| Fuel | Price | 22 kW an hour | Three days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $14.82 per 1,000 ft³ | $3.02 | $218 |
| Propane | $2.01 a gallon | $5.08 | $366 (182 gal) |
At half load, a 22 kW unit costs $3.02 an hour for Gas in Wisconsin, compared with $5.08 an hour for propane. Here, residential gas ranks 9th cheapest of 51.
| Propane tank | Usable at 80% | 22 kW at half load | Fill at Wisconsin price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 79 h | $401 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 158 h | $803 |
Power outages in Wisconsin
In 2025, Wisconsin customers spent an average of 264 minutes without power. That is near the US figure of 269 and ranks 25th highest of 51. Major storms accounted for 67% of it, while 87 minutes came from ordinary days. The ten-year average is 242, and 2025 came in 22 minutes above it. Of the past ten years, 2019 ranked worst at 384 minutes.
Each year since 2016
| Year | Minutes out, all events | Rank of 51 states | Without major storms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 264 | 25th | 87 |
| 2024 | 297 | 26th | 98 |
| 2023 | 204 | 29th | 77 |
| 2022 | 308 | 21st | 105 |
| 2021 | 361 | 15th | 88 |
| 2020 | 120 | 44th | 89 |
| 2019 | 384 | 9th | 90 |
| 2018 | 117 | 43rd | 76 |
| 2017 | 219 | 29th | 69 |
| 2016 | 148 | 39th | 76 |
Wisconsin utilities and their 2025 outages
| Utility | Customers | Minutes out | Outages each | Minutes per outage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Electric Power Co | 1,228,534 | 185 | 0.90 | 206 |
| Wisconsin Power & Light Co | 502,317 | 96 | 0.79 | 122 |
| Wisconsin Public Service Corp | 469,667 | 630 | 1.44 | 438 |
| Northern States Power Co | 263,161 | 309 | 1.15 | 269 |
| Madison Gas & Electric Co | 170,341 | 49 | 0.39 | 125 |
Wisconsin Public Service Corp customers lost power for 630 minutes in 2025, compared with 49 minutes for Madison Gas & Electric Co. At 12.9 to one, information about your local utility is more useful than the 264 minute state figure. For all utilities, customer-weighted, the average was 0.99 power losses per year. That is less often than the US rate of 1.35. Among outages on Wisconsin Electric Power Co lines, the average duration was 206 minutes. That's about 3.4 hours, equal to $10.36 in gas for a 22 kW unit at half load.
Wisconsin FEMA major disasters since 2016
Altogether, 10 major disasters were declared: 7 floods, 2 severe storms, plus 1 tornado. The most recent one came in October 2026, and COVID-19 is not counted. Because 7 flood declarations were made, place your generator pad higher than the local flood level. The permit office can provide that level for your lot.
Counties named in the most declarations include Vernon County (5), La Crosse County (4) and Monroe County (4). Others include Bayfield County (3), Clark County (3), Crawford County (3), Iron County (3) and Jackson County (3).
| Declared | Disaster | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | DR-4949 |
| June 2026 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | DR-4923 |
| September 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides | DR-4892 |
| March 2020 | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding | DR-4477 |
| August 2019 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | DR-4459 |
| October 2018 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides | DR-4402 |
Wisconsin and the states beside it
| State | 22 kW on gas, installed | Wage | Minutes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $11,269 to $16,369 | $35.49 | 264 |
| Iowa | $10,769 to $15,269 | $30.38 | 183 |
| Illinois | $12,169 to $18,269 | $44.34 | 146 |
| Michigan | $11,269 to $16,369 | $35.5 | 609 |
| Minnesota | $11,669 to $17,069 | $38.86 | 182 |
Installation costs less in 1 of 4 neighboring states. Iowa has the lowest cost at $10,769, while Illinois has the highest at $12,169. Outage times show a wider gap than installation prices. Michigan recorded 609 minutes in 2025, versus 264 minutes in Wisconsin.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025), EIA gas prices (March to August 2026), EIA propane prices (October 26, 2026), EIA outage records, EIA-861, FEMA. All states.