Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in Delaware?
South · Mixed (e.g. Mid-Atlantic, Pacific NW, lower Midwest) · EIA residential fuel prices
For a reference 2,000 sq ft home in Delaware (assumed seasonal COP 2.8, 95% gas furnace), a heat pump costs about $665/year to run versus about $626/year for natural gas — so a heat pump is about $38/yr more than a gas furnace. It is cheaper than propane ($1,513/yr), cheaper than heating oil ($1,716/yr), and far cheaper than electric resistance ($1,861/yr). The cheapest option here is natural gas furnace (95% afue). These are estimates — verify with an HVAC pro.
Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential). Data as of June 2026.
Delaware residential fuel prices
| Fuel | Residential price | Source / period |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (residential) | 17.64¢/kWh | EIA, March 2026 |
| Natural gas (residential) | $1.653/therm | EIA, March 2026 |
| Heating oil (residential) | $5.612/gal | EIA, Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) |
| Propane (residential) | $3.539/gal | EIA, Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) |
Source: EIA (electricity, natural gas, heating oil & propane). Data as of June 2026.
Delaware residential natural gas is $17.14/Mcf (about $1.653/therm), EIA March 2026. Heating oil and propane are EIA residential prices for Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) (Week ending 2026-03-30) — EIA does not publish these per individual state.
Annual heating cost in Delaware — every system compared
Reference: a 2,000 sq ft home in a mixed (e.g. mid-atlantic, pacific nw, lower midwest), roughly 36 MMBTU/year of useful heat. Energy cost only (no equipment, install or maintenance):
| Heating system | Annual energy cost | Annual use |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas furnace (95% AFUE) | $626/yr | 379 therms |
| Heat pump | $665/yr | 3,768 kWh |
| Propane furnace (92% AFUE) | $1,513/yr | 428 gal |
| Heating oil (85% AFUE) | $1,716/yr | 306 gal |
| Electric resistance (baseboard, COP 1.0) | $1,861/yr | 10,551 kWh |
Source: EIA fuel prices + ENERGY STAR energy conversions. Data as of June 2026.
Cheapest to run in this reference case: Natural gas furnace (95% AFUE). Run your own home size, COP and prices.
Heat pump vs each fuel in Delaware
| Comparison | Heat pump | Other system | Heat-pump result |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs natural gas (95% AFUE) | $665 | $626 | $38/yr more |
| vs propane (92% AFUE) | $665 | $1,513 | Saves $849/yr |
| vs heating oil (85% AFUE) | $665 | $1,716 | Saves $1,051/yr |
| vs electric resistance (COP 1.0) | $665 | $1,861 | Saves $1,196/yr |
How Delaware compares with similar states
The five states with the closest electricity price to Delaware, and how heat-pump-vs-gas savings look there:
| State | Electricity ¢/kWh | Heat-pump vs gas (ref. home) |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware (this state) | 17.64¢ | $38/yr more |
| Indiana | 17.85¢ | $511/yr more |
| Alabama | 17.15¢ | Saves $38/yr |
| Virginia | 17.05¢ | Saves $43/yr |
| Colorado | 16.74¢ | $483/yr more |
| Ohio | 18.78¢ | $503/yr more |
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than gas in Delaware?
Not in this reference case. For a 2,000 sq ft home in Delaware (assumed seasonal COP 2.8, 95% gas furnace), a heat pump costs about $665/year vs about $626/year for gas, because Delaware has relatively cheap natural gas. A heat pump is still typically cheaper than propane, oil and electric resistance here.
What does it cost to heat a home in Delaware?
Using EIA March 2026 prices and a 2,000 sq ft home in a mixed (e.g. mid-atlantic, pacific nw, lower midwest) (about 36 MMBTU/yr), estimated annual energy cost is about: heat pump $665, natural gas $626, propane $1,513, heating oil $1,716, electric resistance $1,861. The cheapest here is natural gas furnace (95% afue).
Is a heat pump cheaper than propane or heating oil in Delaware?
In this reference case, vs propane a heat pump saves about $849/year, and vs heating oil it saves about $1,051/year. Heat pumps usually beat both delivered fuels comfortably because they deliver far more heat per unit of energy.
How does Delaware rank for heat-pump savings?
On heat-pump savings vs a gas furnace (reference 2,000 sq ft home), Delaware ranks #22 of 51 states (1 = saves the most). This reflects Delaware's mix of 17.64¢/kWh electricity and $1.653/therm gas.
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Sources & accuracy
Electricity: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential) (March 2026); natural gas: EIA residential price (March 2026); heating oil & propane: EIA Heating Oil and Propane Update (Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), Week ending 2026-03-30); energy constants: ENERGY STAR Thermal Energy Conversions. All U.S. public domain. These are statewide/regional averages and the comparison is an estimate, not a quote or engineering analysis. Actual savings depend on your home, climate, equipment and rates. Verify with an HVAC professional. See methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-29