I contacted an electrician about installing a standby Generac Generator. It will be 20k and natural gas fueled. I got a quote for $8000. He will pick up the unit, and sub out the cement pad, and run about50 feet of cable through the house to the electrical box. Yea or nay on the price?

corrected to 20k from 16k generator @11:25 am.

I would get more details and also get another quote to compare.
But even with those incomplete facts it seems in line.

I assume you mean Generac. I did an 11KW Generac with a 200 amp transfer switch, propane, on a slab I brought in for under $3700. My propane guy did the hookup for free and a great local electrician did the hookup for $450. The generator was on sale at the time and the prices have increased slightly since then. Your 16KW unit would be about $1000 higher than the one I purchased Some depends on where you live and what you have to do for permits. There are no requirements for that where I live. I have equipment to unload and move around heavy stuff and I did all that. $8000 might be reasonable where you live. It seems a little high to me. I was involved in the purchase and installation of mine. It sounds like he is doing everything and you are spending no time or effort and that increases his costs and may be worth the difference to you. I am retired so I have the time and some equipment on site. By the way, I bought a concrete pad for $75 and transported it myself rather than pouring in place. This was included in the under $3700 price as was the battery I bought at the local farm store which is not included with the unit from Generac.

Fifteen years ago I recall $7,000 seemed 'normal'.

My 2017 20 kw generator install had a longer run of natural gas and power than 50' to get to an area that would meet fire code. My installed cost was over $10k but also included coordinating with natural gas company for the larger meter, obtaining all permits, concrete pad for generator, load shedding (I have a lot more AC than someone in SE Mich so I cannot run both ACs, dual oven, and electric dryer at the same time). Also, it was a Kohler not a Generac.

Going with the largest air cooled Kohler was still significantly cheaper than the smallest liquid cooled Kohler. It's also $100/year less maintenance for an air cooled vs liquid cooled generator.

I tried to obtain quotes from 4 Kohler certified dealers - platinum level, gold level, and ordinary. Surprisingly, the platinum level was the lowest cost and the owner (master electrician) did the sales. The gold level company used a salesman who wasn't an electrician (i.e. couldn't answer questions) and the 2 regular dealers were no shows despite having an appointment.

I’d think the price of that type of job would depend a great deal on local factors. Agree that an additional bid or two for the job would be a good idea.

When I did mine the total price was just about double for the cost of the generator alone. Well worth the investment, especailly during huricane season.

The price is in the range. Without seeing what's necessary with your setup, it's impossible to say (how far the gas and power line runs have to be, etc.)

I used to sell, service, and install generators. I'm in DC Metro area, and everything is God awful expensive. Without looking over it all. $11-12k in my area, depending on gas and conduit runs. Exact idea situation $10k-ish. Idea situation is gas and electric meters next to each other, room to mount ATS outdoors and panel is in an unfinished location.

Generac stopped making 20kws a while ago, you are probably looking at a 22kw. Or they are using the NG rating instead of the LP rating, or they changed the product line again.

The ones we installed in our new homes typically ran $8-10K

This included an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) with load shedding capabilities and all connections and permits.
Most of the generators were in the 16-22kW range.

We had a Generac 22kw installed recently.
Long run for our propane tie in, cost $630
Electrician's fee for hookup $795
Generac generator and pad $5,500

If your gas meter is on the west side of the house, and the electric meter is on the east side...

Which would be cheaper to run -- wiring to the generator under the house from the electric meter or a gas line under the house?

The benefit of running the gas line would be that I could have a tee put in and a line run up to the deck for a grill.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:
We had a Generac 22kw installed recently.
Long run for our propane tie in, cost $630
Electrician's fee for hookup $795
Generac generator and pad $5,500

Electrician was paid less per hour than I get paid by my company per hour.

$795
-$100 permit
-$10 connectors
-$100+ wire
-$20 Ground bar
-$30 misc materials
-$100 conduit and genset wiring.


Assuming no other code corrections were needed, and all the grounding wires were somehow long enough to be extended from the electrical panel to the ATS, he did his work for $435 in labor and zero markup on materials or permit.

Wow.

The minimum our gas sub charged us was $1,000 for a short run which we marked up to $1,200.

Amazing how much prices can vary in the same state. I wouldn't install a generator for a friend at above pricing.

Did you happen to take pictures of the final job inside the electrical panel and ATS? I'd love to see the work.

Personally, I don't really think any of us can tell you for certain whether that's a good number or not given the difference in hourly rates where you live versus where I live. I installed a Generac 20kw gen set several years ago. Here are the costs as I remember them...

In-ground Propane Tank (Purchased not leased. Also included an additional 65' of copper line.) - $3,500

Generator and Transfer Switch (Delivered to my home) - $4,400

Electrician Installation - $1,700

I poured the slab for it because, well, I'm too picky to let someone else do it.

So all in, $9,600

I paid almost exactly that in 2017 for a 17k generator install.

SE Mi is a big area.
I'm in Lapeer County and my 22k unit cost me $7000 about 5 yrs ago.
Had lots of bids, all for units that were smaller but most of them higher priced.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
In-ground Propane Tank (Purchased not leased. Also included an additional 65' of copper line.) - $3,500

Generator and Transfer Switch (Delivered to my home) - $4,400

Electrician Installation - $1,700

I poured the slab for it because, well, I'm too picky to let someone else do it.

So all in, $9,600

Running on propane vs gas, is one preferred over the other? I realize during a hurricane and shortly after, gas may be in short supply or with long lines.

Which electrician company did you use?

I'm in the phase of debating whether I should just go with a portable generator and only power a couple appliances (one window AC unit & fridge) and a light. Not sure if I want to spend $10k.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:
We had a Generac 22kw installed recently.
Long run for our propane tie in, cost $630
Electrician's fee for hookup $795
Generac generator and pad $5,500

Electrician was paid less per hour than I get paid by my company per hour.

$795
-$100 permit
-$10 connectors
-$100+ wire
-$20 Ground bar
-$30 misc materials
-$100 conduit and genset wiring.


Assuming no other code corrections were needed, and all the grounding wires were somehow long enough to be extended from the electrical panel to the ATS, he did his work for $435 in labor and zero markup on materials or permit.

Wow.

The minimum our gas sub charged us was $1,000 for a short run which we marked up to $1,200.

Amazing how much prices can vary in the same state. I wouldn't install a generator for a friend at above pricing.

Did you happen to take pictures of the final job inside the electrical panel and ATS? I'd love to see the work.

5' offset from house to Generac, the electrician did all the work himself. He also did my son's hookup, a month before ours. Everything works fine so far. I can take pictures, might be a couple of days before they get posted.

We had a good deal, most chain store installations go over $10,000 this area. We purchased the unit from a local electrical supply company on a special sale.

When I had mine put in the contractor said he doesn't even sell 20k because its only about a $100 difference from the 22k. That was in January 2018. I think I paid a little under 9k for everything. My only problem is the power never goes out anymore.

quote:

5' offset from house to Generac, the electrician did all the work himself. He also did my son's hookup, a month before ours. Everything works fine so far. I can take pictures, might be a couple of days before they get posted.

We had a good deal, most chain store installations go over $10,000 this area. We purchased the unit from a local electrical supply company on a special sale.

If you don't already have them I don't want you taking off ATS and panel covers which would tell me if he did it right. In most cases what you paid would be materials and permit cost only. I hope he did it right, that would be my only concern, plus I like to see how other people do stuff.

If I get around to it, I'll post a couple pics of how it's done the 'right way'.