# Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on United Illuminating Co rates (CT)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on United Illuminating Co electricity rates in Connecticut that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump costs about $220 a year more to run, so it only comes out ahead if its quote is at least $3,300 below the quote for a new furnace and AC.

- Verdict: **depends on quotes**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new gas furnace and AC: $220 more
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is at least $3,300 below the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/ct/united-illuminating-co/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/ct/united-illuminating-co.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 | $12,970 | $10,150–$15,790 | – | $1,460 | $34,800 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $12,970 | $9,020–$16,920 | – | $2,190 | $45,900 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $16,920 | $12,410–$22,560 | – | $1,680 | $42,100 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: Residential Service tariff for United Illuminating Co, effective 2026-01-01, from the U.S. Utility Rate Database, applied tier by tier to the extra kWh. Typical-bill price 34.8¢/kWh, +26% vs. the Connecticut average of 27.7¢/kWh.
- Weather: Ansonia 1 Ne, 6,070 heating and 686 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.69/therm (Connecticut winter average, EIA); propane $4.27/gallon; heating oil $6.08/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Connecticut area heat with gas 46%, heating oil 32%, electricity 15%, propane 4%, other 2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Connecticut HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Connecticut, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for United Illuminating Co customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on United Illuminating Co electricity rates in Connecticut that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump costs about $220 a year more to run, so it only comes out ahead if its quote is at least $3,300 below the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on United Illuminating Co's rates?**
About $1,680 a year for heating and cooling with the High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump option, against $1,460 for New gas furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: Residential Service tariff for United Illuminating Co, effective 2026-01-01, from the U.S. Utility Rate Database, applied tier by tier to the extra kWh.

## 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 Connecticut utilities

- [Bozrah Light & Power Company](https://meterwise.app/ct/bozrah-light-and-power-company/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Eversource (Connecticut Light & Power)](https://meterwise.app/ct/eversource-connecticut-light-and-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Norwich](https://meterwise.app/ct/city-of-norwich/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Town of Wallingford](https://meterwise.app/ct/town-of-wallingford/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Connecticut utilities](https://meterwise.app/ct/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on United Illuminating Co rates (CT)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/ct/united-illuminating-co/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.