Most home standby generators run on one of two fuels: natural gas or propane. The hardware is largely the same — the difference is where the fuel comes from, and that has real consequences during a long South Louisiana outage. Here’s how to choose.
Same generator, two fuels
A standby generator’s engine can typically be configured for either natural gas (NG) or liquid propane (LP). What changes is the supply chain behind it: natural gas arrives continuously through a utility pipeline, while propane is stored on your property in a tank. That single distinction drives almost every trade-off below.
Natural gas
How it works: the generator taps your existing utility gas line and draws fuel on demand.
- No tank, no refills. As long as the gas utility’s line pressure holds, the generator runs indefinitely — there’s nothing to monitor or top off, even through a multi-day outage.
- Lowest hassle, lowest fuss. Nothing to bury, inspect, or schedule deliveries for.
- The trade-offs: natural gas has a lower energy density than propane, so the same engine produces slightly less power on NG (this feeds into sizing). It also depends on the gas utility keeping pressure up during a disaster.
Natural gas is the natural choice where utility gas service already exists — common in New Orleans, where Entergy New Orleans supplies gas across most of the parish, and across much of Baton Rouge.
Propane (LP)
How it works: the generator runs off a dedicated propane tank, above- or below-ground, sized for your needs.
- Independent of the gas grid. Your fuel sits on your own land — useful where there’s no gas line, and reassuring to homeowners who want their supply within sight.
- More power per gallon. Propane’s higher energy content often means a bit more output from the same generator versus natural gas.
- The trade-offs: the tank holds a finite supply. Sized correctly it carries a home through a multi-day outage, but the longest events may need a refill — so tank size and runtime planning matter.
Propane is the answer for homes beyond the gas mains — common in the rural bayou stretches around Houma and the sugarcane country around New Iberia, where many properties have no natural-gas service at all.
Runtime during a hurricane outage
This is the question that matters most here. On natural gas, runtime is effectively unlimited as long as the pipeline stays pressurized — you never think about fuel. On propane, runtime is whatever your tank holds; a properly sized tank handles a typical multi-day outage, with a planned refill for anything longer. Neither requires you to do anything during the storm — both start automatically and run day and night.
Which should you choose?
The short version:
- Already have a natural-gas line? It’s usually the simplest, lowest-maintenance option.
- No gas service, rural property, or want fuel stored on-site? Propane is the way, sized generously for storm-season runtime.
Your installer will confirm what’s actually available at your address and recommend accordingly — it’s part of the free assessment.
Next steps
- Make sure it’s sized right: How to Size a Home Standby Generator
- See the install process: What to Expect on Generator Install Day
- Compare the fuel options for your area — find your city and we’ll connect you with a local installer.