The short answer: In the Lafayette area, a professionally installed whole-home standby generator typically runs $9,000 to $18,000 all-in: the unit, the transfer switch and electrical work, the concrete pad, and the gas line to feed it. The gas piping is its own licensed job, and undersized gas lines are the most common installation mistake we correct.
Ask anyone who spent a week without power after a storm: the generator conversation stops being hypothetical fast. Every August our gas fitting team gets the same three questions, so here are the real answers, including the part of the project most generator articles skip: the fuel line.
What a whole-home generator actually costs here
National averages get quoted a lot, so here is how the budget really breaks down in Acadiana:
| Component | Typical range | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|
| Standby generator unit (18-26 kW, whole-home) | $5,000 – $9,000 | Capacity, brand, supply. A 22-24 kW unit covers most Acadiana homes including central A/C. |
| Electrical: transfer switch, wiring, permits | $2,500 – $5,000 | Panel condition, service size, distance from panel. |
| Gas line installation or upsizing | $750 – $3,500+ | Distance from the meter, pipe size required, whether the existing line can be tapped or a new run is needed. |
| Pad, placement, drainage | $500 – $1,500 | Flood elevation matters here; the unit must sit above expected water. |
Portable generators are the budget alternative ($500 – $2,500), and they are the right choice for many families, but they carry the most safety risk, so read the safety section below regardless of which way you go. [Confirm ranges against current supplier pricing before publish.]
The part nobody talks about: your gas line probably needs work
A 22 kW generator at full load draws more gas than a furnace, a water heater, and a range combined. That demand has consequences:
- The line from your meter may be too small. Most homes were piped for the appliances they had, with little spare capacity. Tapping a generator into an undersized line starves every appliance on it; units shut down under load exactly when you need them, during the outage.
- The meter itself may need an upgrade. Your gas utility sizes the meter to total connected load. Adding 200,000+ BTU usually means a call to the utility, which we handle as part of the job. Typically we add 2-pound regulators for the increased pressure, and can go up to 10 pounds where the system calls for it.
- Pressure testing and code compliance are not optional. New gas runs in Lafayette Parish require permitted, licensed work and a pressure test before the utility will support the added load. This is exactly what a Louisiana master natural gas fitter license covers; it is why generator dealers subcontract this part to companies like ours.
Natural gas or propane?
If your street has natural gas, use it: unlimited runtime, no tank to refill while every propane truck in the parish is booked solid. Propane makes sense outside the gas grid (parts of Maurice, Milton, and rural Vermilion and Acadia parishes), with a 250-500 gallon tank giving roughly 3-7 days of runtime depending on load. We install and test both fuel systems.
What size generator does a Louisiana home need?
The honest sizing question is one appliance: your air conditioner. Riding out a Louisiana September without A/C is its own health risk, so most whole-home installs here are sized to carry it. Rough guide: 3-ton central A/C plus normal household load lands most homes in the 22-26 kW range; a smaller “essentials” setup (fridge, lights, fans, internet, window unit) can run on 7-12 kW. A load calculation beats guessing; oversizing wastes thousands and undersizing trips breakers in the first hour.
The safety rules that are not negotiable
- Never run a portable generator in a garage, carport, or near windows. Carbon monoxide kills more people after storms than the storms do. Twenty feet from the house, exhaust pointed away, CO detectors inside.
- Never backfeed your panel by plugging a generator into a wall outlet. It energizes the lines crews are working on and it will destroy equipment when power returns. Transfer switches exist for this reason.
- Never DIY the gas connection. A leak you cannot smell at an outdoor connection is still feeding a spark source. Every connection we make is pressure-tested and inspected.
- Standby units need exercise. They self-test weekly; if yours does not, or it throws errors, have it looked at in May, not September.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a gas line for a generator?
In our area, typically $750 to $3,500 depending on distance from the meter and pipe size, occasionally more for long runs or meter upgrades. If boring under concrete is needed, the price is higher and quoted strictly per job. We quote it on site, and the price is firm before work starts.
Can my existing gas meter handle a generator?
Often not without an upgrade. We calculate your total connected load, and we handle adding regulators for your home and generator, as well as coordinating any meter upsizing with the utility as part of the installation.
Do I need a permit to install a generator in Lafayette Parish?
Yes: electrical and gas permits, plus inspection. Licensed installers pull these as part of the job. Be wary of any quote that does not mention permits.
Whole-home standby or portable: which should I buy?
If the budget allows and you plan to stay in the home 5+ years, standby wins on safety, capacity, and doing its job while you are away. If not, a quality portable with a transfer switch (installed, not improvised) is a respectable middle path.
Get the gas side done right
Whether you are adding a standby unit, upsizing a line, or making a portable setup safe, our licensed gas fitters (LMNGF #9436) handle sizing, permits, installation, and testing across Lafayette, Youngsville, and all of Acadiana. Book online or call 337-344-3920 before the next cone shows up on the forecast.
