{
 "utility": "Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc",
 "utility_legal_name": "Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc",
 "eia_id": 17637,
 "state": "MD",
 "state_name": "Maryland",
 "url": "https://meterwise.app/md/southern-maryland-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/",
 "markdown_url": "https://meterwise.app/md/southern-maryland-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md",
 "json_url": "https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/md/southern-maryland-elec-coop-inc.json",
 "json_path": "data/v1/utilities/md/southern-maryland-elec-coop-inc.json",
 "updated": "2026-11-10",
 "zip_codes_served": 73,
 "quick_answer": "As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft electrically heated home on Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc electricity rates in Maryland that needs a new furnace and AC: A heat pump comes out ahead here even with a high quote: about $22,000 less than a new furnace and AC over 15 years at typical prices, and $1,540 a year less to run.",
 "verdict": "heat pump ahead at any quote",
 "verdict_code": "always",
 "assumptions": {
  "floor_area_sqft": 1800,
  "insulation": "average",
  "scenario": "furnace and AC both need replacing",
  "heating_fuel": "electric",
  "lifetime_years": 15
 },
 "electricity": {
  "price_per_kwh_typical_bill": 0.1837,
  "winter_extra_kwh_price": 0.1737,
  "state_average_per_kwh": 0.2132,
  "vs_state_average_pct": -14,
  "source": "utility tariff (U.S. Utility Rate Database)",
  "tariff": "Residential Service",
  "tariff_effective": "2025-07-01",
  "note": "Electricity: Residential Service tariff for Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc, effective 2025-07-01, from the U.S. Utility Rate Database, applied tier by tier to the extra kWh."
 },
 "climate": {
  "station": "Mechanicsville 5 Ne",
  "heating_degree_days": 4589,
  "cooling_degree_days": 1029,
  "normals": "NOAA 1991-2020"
 },
 "heating_fuel": {
  "default": "electric",
  "price_per_therm_gas": 1.604,
  "local_mix": {
   "electric": 0.559,
   "gas": 0.23,
   "oil": 0.116,
   "other": 0.04,
   "propane": 0.054
  }
 },
 "heat_pump": {
  "option": "Heat pump (replaces both)",
  "annual_saving_vs_like_for_like": 1539,
  "break_even_quote_gap": 23086
 },
 "options": [
  {
   "id": "like",
   "option": "New electric furnace + new AC",
   "installed_typical": 11277,
   "installed_low": 8162,
   "installed_high": 14606,
   "rebates": 0,
   "energy_cost_per_year": 2403,
   "electricity_kwh_per_year": 13834,
   "fuel_per_year": null,
   "total_15_years": 47318
  },
  {
   "id": "hp",
   "option": "Heat pump (replaces both)",
   "installed_typical": 12351,
   "installed_low": 8592,
   "installed_high": 16110,
   "rebates": 0,
   "energy_cost_per_year": 864,
   "electricity_kwh_per_year": 4973,
   "fuel_per_year": null,
   "total_15_years": 25305
  },
  {
   "id": "hp_cold",
   "option": "High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump",
   "installed_typical": 16110,
   "installed_low": 11814,
   "installed_high": 21480,
   "rebates": 0,
   "energy_cost_per_year": 687,
   "electricity_kwh_per_year": 3954,
   "fuel_per_year": null,
   "total_15_years": 26409
  }
 ],
 "rebates_checked": false,
 "rebate_programs": [],
 "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
 "citation": "MeterWise, \"Heat pump vs. electric furnace and AC on Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc rates (MD)\", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/md/southern-maryland-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/"
}