Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in Rhode Island?
Northeast · Cold (e.g. Northeast, upper Midwest) · EIA residential fuel prices
For a reference 2,000 sq ft home in Rhode Island (assumed seasonal COP 2.4, 95% gas furnace), a heat pump costs about $2,045/year to run versus about $924/year for natural gas — so a heat pump is about $1,122/yr more than a gas furnace. It is cheaper than propane ($2,505/yr), cheaper than heating oil ($2,653/yr), and far cheaper than electric resistance ($4,909/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.
Rhode Island residential fuel prices
| Fuel | Residential price | Source / period |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (residential) | 29.91¢/kWh | EIA, March 2026 |
| Natural gas (residential) | $1.567/therm (US avg) | EIA, March 2026 |
| Heating oil (residential) | $5.578/gal | EIA, New England (PADD 1A) |
| Propane (residential) | $3.766/gal | EIA, New England (PADD 1A) |
Source: EIA (electricity, natural gas, heating oil & propane). Data as of June 2026.
EIA did not publish a March 2026 residential natural-gas price for Rhode Island; the U.S. average of $16.25/Mcf is used and flagged. Heating oil and propane are EIA residential prices for New England (PADD 1A) (Week ending 2026-03-30) — EIA does not publish these per individual state.
Annual heating cost in Rhode Island — every system compared
Reference: a 2,000 sq ft home in a cold (e.g. northeast, upper midwest), roughly 56 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) | $924/yr | 589 therms |
| Heat pump | $2,045/yr | 6,839 kWh |
| Propane furnace (92% AFUE) | $2,505/yr | 665 gal |
| Heating oil (85% AFUE) | $2,653/yr | 476 gal |
| Electric resistance (baseboard, COP 1.0) | $4,909/yr | 16,413 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 Rhode Island
| Comparison | Heat pump | Other system | Heat-pump result |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs natural gas (95% AFUE) | $2,045 | $924 | $1,122/yr more |
| vs propane (92% AFUE) | $2,045 | $2,505 | Saves $460/yr |
| vs heating oil (85% AFUE) | $2,045 | $2,653 | Saves $608/yr |
| vs electric resistance (COP 1.0) | $2,045 | $4,909 | Saves $2,864/yr |
How Rhode Island compares with similar states
The five states with the closest electricity price to Rhode Island, and how heat-pump-vs-gas savings look there:
| State | Electricity ¢/kWh | Heat-pump vs gas (ref. home) |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island (this state) | 29.91¢ | $1,122/yr more |
| Massachusetts | 30.21¢ | $522/yr more |
| Connecticut | 30.47¢ | $973/yr more |
| New York | 28.55¢ | $878/yr more |
| Maine | 28.32¢ | $1,900/yr more |
| Alaska | 27.17¢ | $2,026/yr more |
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than gas in Rhode Island?
Not in this reference case. For a 2,000 sq ft home in Rhode Island (assumed seasonal COP 2.4, 95% gas furnace), a heat pump costs about $2,045/year vs about $924/year for gas, because Rhode Island has relatively high electricity prices. A heat pump is still typically cheaper than propane, oil and electric resistance here.
What does it cost to heat a home in Rhode Island?
Using EIA March 2026 prices and a 2,000 sq ft home in a cold (e.g. northeast, upper midwest) (about 56 MMBTU/yr), estimated annual energy cost is about: heat pump $2,045, natural gas $924, propane $2,505, heating oil $2,653, electric resistance $4,909. The cheapest here is natural gas furnace (95% afue).
Is a heat pump cheaper than propane or heating oil in Rhode Island?
In this reference case, vs propane a heat pump saves about $460/year, and vs heating oil it saves about $608/year. Heat pumps usually beat both delivered fuels comfortably because they deliver far more heat per unit of energy.
How does Rhode Island rank for heat-pump savings?
On heat-pump savings vs a gas furnace (reference 2,000 sq ft home), Rhode Island ranks #46 of 51 states (1 = saves the most). This reflects Rhode Island's mix of 29.91¢/kWh electricity and US-average 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 (New England (PADD 1A), 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