# Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on City of Riverside rates (CA)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on City of Riverside electricity rates in California that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $180 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,700 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

- Verdict: **depends on quotes**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new gas furnace and AC: $180 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,700 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-riverside/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/ca/city-of-riverside.json

## Typical home: costs by option

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

| Option | Installed (typical) | Installed range | Rebates | Energy per year | 15-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New gas furnace + new AC | $12,590 | $9,860–$15,330 | – | $810 | $24,700 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $12,590 | $8,760–$16,430 | – | $630 | $22,100 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $16,430 | $12,050–$21,900 | – | $500 | $23,900 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: City of Riverside's average residential price in CA (EIA), $0.202/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.223/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 20.2¢/kWh, -38% vs. the California average of 32.6¢/kWh.
- Weather: March AFB, 2,096 heating and 1,484 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $2.16/therm (California winter average, EIA); propane $2.69/gallon; heating oil $6.15/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's California area heat with gas 72%, electricity 22%, other 4%, propane 2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and California HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in California, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for City of Riverside customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on City of Riverside electricity rates in California that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $180 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,700 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on City of Riverside's rates?**
About $630 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $810 for New gas furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: City of Riverside's average residential price in CA (EIA), $0.202/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.223/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 California utilities

- [City of Anaheim](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-anaheim/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Burbank Water and Power](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-burbank-water-and-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Glendale](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-glendale/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Imperial Irrigation District](https://meterwise.app/ca/imperial-irrigation-district/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water & Power)](https://meterwise.app/ca/ladwp-los-angeles-department-of-water-and-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Merced Irrigation District](https://meterwise.app/ca/merced-irrigation-district/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Modesto Irrigation District](https://meterwise.app/ca/modesto-irrigation-district/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric)](https://meterwise.app/ca/pg-and-e-pacific-gas-and-electric/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Pacific Power (PacifiCorp)](https://meterwise.app/ca/pacific-power-pacificorp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Palo Alto](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-palo-alto/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Pasadena](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-pasadena/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Roseville](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-roseville/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All California utilities](https://meterwise.app/ca/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on City of Riverside rates (CA)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-riverside/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.