A typical complete Cummins 20 kW whole-house standby generator installation in Dallas–Fort Worth runs about $13,500–$17,000 all in, including the unit, automatic transfer switch, gas line connection, concrete pad, permits, and startup. It is an estimate: every home and business is different, so the final price is quoted in writing after an on-site survey.
This guide is part of our Standby Generator Installation service in Dallas–Fort Worth.
2026 installed prices by generator size
| Generator size | Installed price | What it runs |
|---|---|---|
| 13 kW air-cooled (Cummins RS13A) | $11,000 – $14,000 | Essential circuits — fridge, lights, furnace, one smaller AC with load management |
| 17 kW air-cooled (RS17A) | $12,500 – $15,500 | Typical three-bedroom home with a single AC system |
| 20 kW air-cooled (RS20A), typical whole house | $13,500 – $17,000 | Whole home, including central AC, for most 2,000–3,500 sq ft houses |
| 25 kW+ liquid-cooled (RS25 and up) | Quoted after survey | Homes over 4,000 sq ft, multiple HVAC zones, pool, workshop |
Most Dallas–Fort Worth homes land in the 17–20 kW air-cooled range. The generator itself is only part of the price — the automatic transfer switch, the gas line run from your meter, the concrete pad, the electrical connection, the permits, and the startup all get bundled into that installed figure. An online price for the bare unit leaves out $2,000–$4,000 of work that is not optional.
What's in the installed price that online unit prices leave out
A generator listed for $4,000 online does not install itself. Here is everything your money is actually buying:
- Automatic transfer switch (ATS) — the box that senses an outage and switches your home from grid to generator power in seconds. This alone is $800–$1,500 of the job, and online unit prices never include it.
- Gas line and plumbing — a licensed plumber runs a new line from your meter to the generator, sized for the unit's full-load demand. We hire and schedule the plumber on a turnkey job, or you can hire your own plumber or propane company to save money. Natural gas is the norm in DFW; propane adds a tank installation and different line sizing.
- Concrete pad and mounting — the generator sits on a leveled pad so it stays put through storms, vibration, and shifting Texas soil.
- Electrical connection and permits — a licensed electrician lands the transfer switch at your panel, and every DFW city requires a permit and inspection for both the electrical and gas work.
- Startup and commissioning — the installer runs the generator under load, verifies the transfer sequence, and sets the exercise schedule. A unit that is dropped off but never commissioned is not actually protecting your home.
Sizing: what kW does a typical DFW home need to run the AC?
Texas summers decide your generator size. The single biggest load in a DFW home is the air conditioner — a 3-ton unit draws a starting surge of 10,000+ watts even though it runs at far less. If you want the AC to keep running during a July outage, the generator has to clear that starting surge, not just the running watts.
Here is the practical rule of thumb we use on every estimate: a 13 kW handles essential circuits plus one smaller AC unit with load management; a 17–20 kW air-cooled unit runs the whole home, central AC included, for most 2,000–3,500 sq ft DFW houses, which is why it is the sweet spot for most suburbs. Homes over about 4,000 sq ft or with multiple HVAC zones move up to the liquid-cooled RS range, which starts at 25 kW. Load management staggers compressor starts, and it is often what keeps a two-system home on an air-cooled unit.
Air-cooled versus liquid-cooled matters for the warranty as well as the capacity. The Cummins air-cooled range carries a 5 year / 2,000 hour limited warranty; the liquid-cooled RS range carries a 2 year standby base warranty. That difference is worth knowing before you compare two quotes. Clements Electric installs Cummins as the electrical contracting arm of UTS ElectricPros, LLC, an authorized Cummins dealer, and the full model range with pricing is published at utselectricpros.com.
Get an exact installed price for your home.
Written flat-rate quote, permit and startup included.
Whole-house generator cost FAQs
A typical complete 20 kW whole-house installation (Cummins RS20A) runs $13,500–$17,000 all in, including the automatic transfer switch, gas line, concrete pad, permits, and startup. That is an estimate: every home and business is different, so your price is quoted in writing after an on-site survey. Smaller 13 kW essential-circuit systems and liquid-cooled RS25 and larger systems are quoted the same way, and equipment prices for every Cummins model are published at utselectricpros.com.
Yes — if it is sized for it. The AC's starting surge, not its running watts, determines the requirement. A 17–20 kW air-cooled unit runs central air in most 2,000–3,500 sq ft DFW homes; a 13 kW unit typically needs load management or runs one smaller unit, and larger homes with multiple HVAC zones move to liquid-cooled 25 kW and up. We perform a load calculation before recommending a size so you are not guessing.
Nothing when it is just sitting there — standby generators use no natural gas while idle. During an outage, a Cummins RS20A on natural gas uses about 268 cubic feet (roughly 2.6 therms) per hour at full load, per Cummins' published specifications. A multi-day outage is the only time the fuel cost is noticeable, and it is far cheaper than spoiled food, burst pipes, or a hotel.
Yes. Every DFW municipality requires permits for the electrical connection and gas line, plus a final inspection. Some cities also enforce noise and setback requirements. Clements Electric pulls all permits and schedules inspections as part of the install.
Yes — real estate agents in storm-prone DFW suburbs put the lift at roughly 3–5% of home value, and a standby generator is increasingly expected by buyers after Winter Storm Uri. It is one of the few upgrades that is both a selling point and everyday peace of mind.
