When a winter storm knocks the power out in Blair County, the questions come fast. How long will this last? Will the pipes freeze? What does a permanent generator actually cost to put in? We hear those questions every outage season, and the honest answer starts with a range, not a single price. Nationally, a whole-house standby generator runs roughly $7,000 to $20,000 installed, with an average near $12,000 (Angi, 2026). Your Altoona quote depends on the size you need, your fuel source, and the install details. This guide walks through all of it.
Serving central PA homeowners since 1919, we have wired backup power into a lot of local houses. Here is how the money actually breaks down. Want a real number for your home? Call 814-944-4621 or request a quote.
Key Takeaways
- Whole-house generators cost about $7,000 to $20,000 installed nationally, averaging near $12,000 (Angi, 2026).
- Generator size is the biggest cost lever: a 14kW unit runs less than a 26kW whole-home unit.
- Standby generators start automatically and run on natural gas or propane. Portables are cheaper but manual.
- The install price covers the unit, transfer switch, pad, gas hookup, permit, and labor, not just the box.
- Adams Electric does not publish fixed prices. The ranges here are third-party national research.
What does a whole-house generator cost?
A whole-house generator costs roughly $7,000 to $20,000 installed, with a national average around $12,000 (Angi, 2026). A commonly cited installed band lands a bit tighter, about $8,000 to $15,000 in 2026 (HomeGuide). That spread is wide for a reason. Two homes on the same Altoona street can land far apart.
Why the range? Because “whole-house generator cost” bundles several things into one number. You are paying for the generator unit itself, plus everything that makes it work: the transfer switch, the pad, the gas connection, the permit, and the labor. A small standby unit powering essentials sits at the low end. A large unit running your central air, electric range, and an EV charger sits at the top.
Citation capsule: A whole-house standby generator costs about $7,000 to $20,000 installed in the United States, averaging near $12,000, according to Angi (2026). A tighter commonly cited band is roughly $8,000 to $15,000 per HomeGuide.
how outages stress an aging panel
How much does a generator cost by size?
Generator cost climbs with capacity, measured in kilowatts (kW). For a Generac Guardian standby unit installed, the approximate national figures run from about $8,000 to $10,500 for a 14kW up to roughly $13,000 to $16,000 for a 26kW (HomeGuide). Size is the single biggest lever on your final quote, so getting it right matters more than shopping the sticker.
Here is the size-to-cost picture, using national installed figures. These are third-party research numbers, not Adams Electric prices.
| Generator size | Approx. installed cost (national) | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| 14kW | $8,000 – $10,500 | Essential loads |
| 18kW | $9,500 – $12,000 | Essentials plus some HVAC |
| 22kW | $11,000 – $14,000 | Whole home, most houses |
| 26kW | $13,000 – $16,000 | Whole home plus heavy loads |
Source: HomeGuide, 2026, Generac Guardian, installed, approximate.
Bigger is not automatically better. An oversized unit costs more up front and burns more fuel. An undersized one trips or fails to carry your critical circuits when the storm hits. The right answer comes from a load calculation, which is exactly what a licensed electrician does before quoting.
Standby vs portable: which one do you need?
Standby and portable generators solve the same problem in very different ways. A standby unit is permanently installed, starts automatically within seconds of an outage, and runs on natural gas or propane (HomeGuide). A portable is cheaper and movable, but you start it by hand, refuel it, and run cords. For a Blair County home that loses power for days in a winter storm, that difference is the whole story.
Standby wins on convenience and safety. It kicks on while you are asleep or away, and it never asks you to drag a machine into the snow at 2 a.m. It ties into your home through an automatic transfer switch, so there is no risky manual switching. Portables have their place for a camper or a single appliance, but they cannot safely power an entire house.
The SVG below lays out the concept side by side. No dollar figures, just how the two approaches differ.
Citation capsule: A standby generator is permanently installed, starts automatically, and runs on natural gas or propane, while a portable is manual and movable, per HomeGuide (2026).
How do you size a generator to your home?
Sizing starts with a simple question: what do you want to keep running? For essential loads only, such as the fridge, sump pump, lights, and a few outlets, a 10 to 14kW unit is typically enough (HomeGuide). Add central HVAC and you push higher. A true whole-home setup that includes an electric range or EV charging can need 22kW or more (HomeGuide).
Think of it in tiers. The bottom tier keeps you safe and warm: heat, refrigeration, and a working sump pump so the basement stays dry. That is the difference between an inconvenience and burst pipes. The middle tier adds comfort, mainly your central air or heat pump. The top tier runs the house like nothing happened, including the big electric appliances.
In our experience across central PA homes, the sump pump is the load people forget until it is too late. Altoona sees heavy rain and snowmelt, and a dead pump during an outage floods finished basements fast. We often size a notch up just to cover it.
Here is a point most cost guides skip: your generator sizing and your electrical panel are linked. If your panel is already maxed out or undersized, a big generator does not fix that. Older Altoona homes often need a panel evaluation first, which can change your total project scope. Sizing the generator without checking the panel is putting the cart before the horse.
What does the generator installation actually include?
The install price covers far more than the generator box. A complete standby installation includes the unit, an automatic transfer switch, a mounting pad, the electrical hookup, the gas connection, the permit, and the labor (HomeGuide). Skip any of those and the quote you are comparing is not really the same job. This is why two bids can look wildly different.
Walk through the pieces. The transfer switch is the brain: it senses the outage and safely moves your home from utility power to generator power, then back again. The pad gives the unit a stable, level, code-compliant base outside. The gas hookup ties the generator to your natural gas line or a propane tank, sized so the unit gets steady fuel. And the permit is not optional busywork.
In Pennsylvania, electrical work like this is regulated under the Uniform Construction Code, and a permit is generally required before you install or alter a regulated electrical system in a home (34 Pa. Code § 403.62). Enforcement is local, so confirm the specifics with your Altoona or Blair County code office. A licensed contractor handles the permit and inspection as part of the job.
Citation capsule: A whole-house generator install includes the unit, automatic transfer switch, pad, electrical and gas hookup, permit, and labor, according to HomeGuide (2026).
Why is backup power worth it in central PA?
Central PA earns its backup power. Blair County sits in a corner of Pennsylvania that catches heavy winter storms, ice, and the wind events that drop limbs on lines. When the grid goes down here, it can stay down while crews reach rural spans. For a homeowner, that is not just discomfort. It is frozen pipes, a flooded basement, spoiled food, and no heat.
A permanent standby generator turns a multi-day outage into a non-event. The lights stay on, the furnace runs, and the sump pump keeps working. For older Altoona homes with aging systems, that reliability protects the house itself, not just the comfort inside it. That is the real return: avoided damage you never have to pay to repair.
We have handled demanding electrical work across the region for over a century, from homes to large commercial projects like our 5,000-amp underground service installation in Duncansville. Backup power for a house is right in our wheelhouse. Explore our residential services or, for a facility, our commercial work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a whole-house generator cost installed?
Nationally, a whole-house generator costs about $7,000 to $20,000 installed, averaging near $12,000 (Angi, 2026). A tighter commonly cited band is roughly $8,000 to $15,000 (HomeGuide). These are third-party national ranges. Your Altoona quote depends on size, fuel, and your specific install.
What size generator do I need for my house?
It depends on your loads. Essential circuits like the fridge, sump pump, and lights typically need about 10 to 14kW, while a full whole-home setup with an electric range or EV charging can require 22kW or more (HomeGuide, 2026). A licensed electrician runs a load calculation to size it correctly.
Is a standby generator better than a portable?
For whole-home backup, yes. A standby unit is permanently installed, starts automatically, and runs on natural gas or propane (HomeGuide, 2026). A portable is cheaper and movable but manual, requires refueling, and safely powers only a few items. Standby fits central PA’s long winter outages far better.
Do I need a permit to install a generator in Pennsylvania?
Generally yes. Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code requires a permit before you install or alter a regulated electrical system in a home (34 Pa. Code § 403.62). Enforcement is local, so confirm details with your Altoona or Blair County code office. A licensed contractor handles the permit for you.
What is included in the installation cost?
The install covers the generator unit, an automatic transfer switch, a mounting pad, the electrical and gas hookup, the permit, and the labor (HomeGuide, 2026). It is not just the price of the box. When you compare bids, make sure each one includes the same complete scope.
Does a generator run on natural gas or propane?
Standby generators run on either natural gas or propane (HomeGuide, 2026). If your home already has a natural gas line, that is often the simplest hookup. Propane suits homes without gas service. The right choice depends on what fuel your property already has and your electrician’s assessment.
Will a big generator overload my old electrical panel?
It can expose panel problems. A generator ties into your home through the electrical panel, so an undersized or aging panel may need attention first. Older Altoona homes commonly need a panel evaluation before a large generator, which is why we assess the whole system, not just the unit.
Get a Real Number for Your Home
National ranges give you a starting point, but only a site visit gives you a real price. Your Altoona quote depends on the generator size, your fuel source, your panel, and the install details unique to your property. That is what an in-home assessment sorts out. Adams Electric does not publish fixed prices, because a fair quote comes from seeing your actual home.
Family-owned and serving Altoona, Hollidaysburg, and Blair County since 1919, we bring a century of central PA electrical experience to every job. Before the next storm knocks out your power, let us size and price backup power for your home.
Call 814-944-4621 or contact us here to schedule your generator assessment.