# Heat pump vs. propane furnace and AC on Tri-State Electric Member Corp rates (GA)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft propane-heated home on Tri-State Electric Member Corp electricity rates in Georgia that needs a new furnace and AC: A heat pump comes out ahead here even with a high quote: about $13,000 less than a new furnace and AC over 15 years at typical prices, and $860 a year less to run.

- Verdict: **heat pump ahead at any quote**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new propane furnace and AC: $870 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $13,000 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/ga/tri-state-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/ga/tri-state-electric-member-corp.json

## Typical home: costs by option

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

| Option | Installed (typical) | Installed range | Rebates | Energy per year | 15-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New propane furnace + new AC | $11,060 | $8,660–$13,470 | – | $1,410 | $32,200 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $11,060 | $7,700–$14,430 | – | $540 | $19,200 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $14,430 | $10,580–$19,240 | – | $430 | $20,800 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: Tri-State Electric Member Corp's average residential price in GA (EIA), $0.140/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.119/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 14.0¢/kWh, -7% vs. the Georgia average of 15.1¢/kWh.
- Weather: Chatsworth, 3,346 heating and 1,566 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.62/therm (Georgia winter average, EIA); propane $3.21/gallon; heating oil $5.93/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Georgia area heat with electricity 52%, propane 36%, gas 6%, other 5%, heating oil 1% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Georgia HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Georgia, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for Tri-State Electric Member Corp customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft propane-heated home on Tri-State Electric Member Corp electricity rates in Georgia that needs a new furnace and AC: A heat pump comes out ahead here even with a high quote: about $13,000 less than a new furnace and AC over 15 years at typical prices, and $860 a year less to run.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on Tri-State Electric Member Corp's rates?**
About $540 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $1,410 for New propane furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: Tri-State Electric Member Corp's average residential price in GA (EIA), $0.140/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.119/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 Georgia utilities

- [Altamaha Electric Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/ga/altamaha-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Amicalola Electric Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/ga/amicalola-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Blue Ridge Mountain EMC](https://meterwise.app/ga/blue-ridge-mountain-emc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Carroll Electric Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/ga/carroll-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Central Georgia El Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/ga/central-georgia-el-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Coastal Electric Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/ga/coastal-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Cobb Electric Membership Corp](https://meterwise.app/ga/cobb-electric-membership-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Crisp County Power Comm](https://meterwise.app/ga/crisp-county-power-comm/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Excelsior Electric Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/ga/excelsior-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Flint Electric Membership Corp](https://meterwise.app/ga/flint-electric-membership-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [GreyStone Power Corporation](https://meterwise.app/ga/greystone-power-corporation/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Georgia Power](https://meterwise.app/ga/georgia-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Georgia utilities](https://meterwise.app/ga/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. propane furnace and AC on Tri-State Electric Member Corp rates (GA)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/ga/tri-state-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.