Fuel types
Fuel choice mostly decides itself: if your home has natural gas service, natural gas wins for standby generators. The interesting decisions are at the edges.
Natural gas
most common in TX metros; unlimited runtime, no refueling; slightly less power output per unit
Propane
for homes without gas service; requires tank (250–500+ gal); stores indefinitely
Diesel
mostly commercial/large homes; efficient but fuel degrades and deliveries needed
Texas-specific notes
- Most DFW, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio neighborhoods have natural gas service (Atmos, CenterPoint, Texas Gas Service territories) — installers verify meter capacity as part of a quote.
- During Winter Storm Uri, some natural gas supply was curtailed — a real but rare tail risk. Propane with a full tank is the "my fuel is already on-site" answer for the truly cautious.
- Dual-fuel portable units exist for a cheaper, manual backup layer — a different product category than automatic standby.