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

> As of November 2026: of 12 Iowa electric utilities, a heat pump comes out ahead at any quote for 0,
> it depends on quotes for 12, and like-for-like comes out ahead for 0
> (typical 1,800 sq ft home replacing both furnace and AC).

- Iowa average residential electricity: 14.2¢/kWh (EIA, last 12 months)
- Winter gas: $0.98/therm (EIA, Nov–Mar)
- Interactive page: https://meterwise.app/ia/

## What to know about the Iowa numbers

- **Rebates not checked yet**: We haven't checked heat pump rebates in Iowa 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.
- **Mostly average prices**: Only 38% of Iowa 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, which is about two years old and doesn't show tiers, so the winter price of extra kWh is estimated. Enter the rate from a recent bill for a closer answer.
- **Time-of-use rates**: One utility's tariff here charge different prices by time of day. We assume heating and cooling use is spread evenly across the day, which can be off if most of yours falls in peak hours.

## 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light)](https://meterwise.app/ia/alliant-energy-interstate-power-and-light/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 17.5¢ | +23% | gas | −$10 | depends on quotes |
| [MidAmerican Energy](https://meterwise.app/ia/midamerican-energy/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 11.0¢ | -22% | gas | −$130 | depends on quotes |
| [Eastern Iowa Light & Power Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/eastern-iowa-light-and-power-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 13.6¢ | -4% | gas | −$150 | depends on quotes |
| [Iowa Lakes Electric Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/iowa-lakes-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 13.8¢ | -3% | gas | −$130 | depends on quotes |
| [Midland Power Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/midland-power-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 13.6¢ | -4% | gas | −$130 | depends on quotes |
| [Maquoketa Valley Rrl Elec Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/maquoketa-valley-rrl-elec-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 13.8¢ | -3% | gas | −$140 | depends on quotes |
| [North West Rural Electric Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/north-west-rural-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 9.3¢ | -35% | gas | −$310 | depends on quotes |
| [East-Central Iowa Rural Elec Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/east-central-iowa-rural-elec-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 13.3¢ | -6% | gas | −$210 | depends on quotes |
| [Prairie Energy Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/prairie-energy-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 14.3¢ | +1% | gas | −$100 | depends on quotes |
| [Access Energy Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/access-energy-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 14.9¢ | +6% | gas | −$150 | depends on quotes |
| [Butler County Rural Elec Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/butler-county-rural-elec-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 15.4¢ | +9% | gas | −$60 | depends on quotes |
| [Heartland Power Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/heartland-power-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md) | 12.7¢ | -11% | gas | −$170 | depends on quotes |

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