# Heat pump vs. electric furnace and AC on Cullman Electric Coop, Inc rates (AL)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft electrically heated home on Cullman Electric Coop, Inc electricity rates in Alabama that needs a new furnace and AC: A heat pump comes out ahead here even with a high quote: about $11,700 less than a new furnace and AC over 15 years at typical prices, and $840 a year less to run.

- Verdict: **heat pump ahead at any quote**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new electric furnace and AC: $840 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $12,500 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/al/cullman-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/al/cullman-electric-coop-inc.json

## Typical home: costs by option

1,800 sq ft, average insulation, heating with electricity, furnace and AC both need replacing.

| Option | Installed (typical) | Installed range | Rebates | Energy per year | 15-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New electric furnace + new AC | $9,420 | $6,820–$12,200 | – | $1,360 | $29,800 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $10,320 | $7,180–$13,460 | – | $520 | $18,100 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $13,460 | $9,870–$17,940 | – | $410 | $19,600 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: Cullman Electric Coop, Inc's average residential price in AL (EIA), $0.133/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.116/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 13.3¢/kWh, -20% vs. the Alabama average of 16.5¢/kWh.
- Weather: Cullman 1.5se/Kress Farms, 3,517 heating and 1,400 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.67/therm (Alabama winter average, EIA); propane $3.59/gallon; heating oil $6.15/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Alabama area heat with electricity 75%, gas 12%, propane 11%, other 2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Alabama HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Alabama, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for Cullman Electric Coop, Inc customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft electrically heated home on Cullman Electric Coop, Inc electricity rates in Alabama that needs a new furnace and AC: A heat pump comes out ahead here even with a high quote: about $11,700 less than a new furnace and AC over 15 years at typical prices, and $840 a year less to run.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on Cullman Electric Coop, Inc's rates?**
About $520 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $1,360 for New electric furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: Cullman Electric Coop, Inc's average residential price in AL (EIA), $0.133/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.116/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer.

## Method

Heating and cooling need from local weather, floor area and insulation; each option's efficiency (heat pumps lose
efficiency in the cold and use backup heat in cold months) turns that into kWh and fuel; electricity is priced
through the utility's tariff; installed costs come from published ranges. Full method: https://meterwise.app/about/index.md

Estimates for a typical home, not a quote or financial advice.

## Other Alabama utilities

- [Alabama Power](https://meterwise.app/al/alabama-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Arab Electric Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/al/arab-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Athens](https://meterwise.app/al/city-of-athens/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Baldwin County El Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/al/baldwin-county-el-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Black Warrior Elec Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/al/black-warrior-elec-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Central Alabama Electric Coop](https://meterwise.app/al/central-alabama-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Coosa Valley Electric Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/al/coosa-valley-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Covington Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/al/covington-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Dixie Electric Coop](https://meterwise.app/al/dixie-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Franklin Electric Coop](https://meterwise.app/al/franklin-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Huntsville](https://meterwise.app/al/city-of-huntsville/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Joe Wheeler Elec Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/al/joe-wheeler-elec-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Alabama utilities](https://meterwise.app/al/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. electric furnace and AC on Cullman Electric Coop, Inc rates (AL)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/al/cullman-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.