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.