# Is a heat pump worth it in California? Compare by electric utility

> As of November 2026: of 22 California electric utilities, a heat pump comes out ahead at any quote for 2,
> it depends on quotes for 20, and like-for-like comes out ahead for 0
> (typical 1,800 sq ft home replacing both furnace and AC).

- California average residential electricity: 32.6¢/kWh (EIA, last 12 months)
- Winter gas: $2.16/therm (EIA, Nov–Mar)
- Interactive page: https://meterwise.app/ca/

## What to know about the California numbers

- **Rebates not checked yet**: We haven't checked heat pump rebates in California yet, so the numbers here leave them out. Utility and state programs can take thousands off a heat pump, so ask your utility and your contractor what's available.
- **Some average prices**: 80% of California ZIP codes here are priced on a current utility tariff; the rest use the utility's average price from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (about two years old). Each utility page says which.
- **Regional fuel prices**: EIA doesn't publish a California price for every fuel: propane uses the national average and heating oil uses the national average. Enter your own price if you heat with it.
- **Tiers and time-of-use**: California's investor-owned utilities put most homes on time-of-use rates with a baseline allowance that depends on your climate zone. We use one tariff per utility and assume heating use is spread evenly across the day; your bill's actual winter price per kWh may differ.

## Utilities

"Heat pump vs. furnace + AC" is the heat pump's yearly running cost difference (− = cheaper to run).

| Utility | Price/kWh | vs. state | Default fuel | Heat pump vs. furnace + AC | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric)](https://meterwise.app/ca/pg-and-e-pacific-gas-and-electric/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 40.2¢ | +23% | gas | −$30 | depends on quotes |
| [SCE (Southern California Edison)](https://meterwise.app/ca/sce-southern-california-edison/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 38.0¢ | +17% | gas | −$20 | depends on quotes |
| [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) | 24.5¢ | -25% | gas | −$110 | depends on quotes |
| [SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric)](https://meterwise.app/ca/sdg-and-e-san-diego-gas-and-electric/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 50.4¢ | +55% | gas | −$170 | depends on quotes |
| [Sacramento Municipal Util Dist](https://meterwise.app/ca/sacramento-municipal-util-dist/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 17.9¢ | -45% | gas | −$270 | depends on quotes |
| [City & County of San Francisco](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-and-county-of-san-francisco/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 24.1¢ | -26% | gas | −$110 | depends on quotes |
| [Pacific Power (PacifiCorp)](https://meterwise.app/ca/pacific-power-pacificorp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 20.6¢ | -37% | electricity | −$1,850 | heat pump ahead at any quote |
| [Imperial Irrigation District](https://meterwise.app/ca/imperial-irrigation-district/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 17.9¢ | -45% | gas | −$180 | depends on quotes |
| [City of Pasadena](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-pasadena/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 26.0¢ | -20% | gas | −$110 | depends on quotes |
| [City of Anaheim](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-anaheim/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 17.1¢ | -47% | gas | −$110 | depends on quotes |
| [City of Glendale](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-glendale/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 33.8¢ | +4% | gas | −$40 | depends on quotes |
| [Modesto Irrigation District](https://meterwise.app/ca/modesto-irrigation-district/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 21.8¢ | -33% | gas | −$220 | depends on quotes |
| [City of Burbank Water and Power](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-burbank-water-and-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 19.3¢ | -41% | gas | −$160 | depends on quotes |
| [City of Riverside](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-riverside/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 20.2¢ | -38% | gas | −$180 | depends on quotes |
| [Turlock Irrigation District](https://meterwise.app/ca/turlock-irrigation-district/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 16.3¢ | -50% | gas | −$240 | depends on quotes |
| [Liberty Utilities](https://meterwise.app/ca/liberty-utilities/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 25.9¢ | -20% | gas | −$320 | depends on quotes |
| [Surprise Valley Electrification](https://meterwise.app/ca/surprise-valley-electrification/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 13.1¢ | -60% | electricity | −$1,590 | heat pump ahead at any quote |
| [City of Santa Clara](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-santa-clara/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 16.9¢ | -48% | gas | −$210 | depends on quotes |
| [City of Palo Alto](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-palo-alto/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 20.7¢ | -37% | gas | −$130 | depends on quotes |
| [Merced Irrigation District](https://meterwise.app/ca/merced-irrigation-district/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 24.3¢ | -26% | gas | −$150 | depends on quotes |
| [City of Roseville](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-roseville/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 18.7¢ | -43% | gas | −$270 | depends on quotes |
| [City of Moreno Valley](https://meterwise.app/ca/city-of-moreno-valley/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 39.9¢ | +22% | gas | +$40 | depends on quotes |

Data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities.json · Method: https://meterwise.app/about/index.md