# Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on North West Rural Electric Coop rates (IA)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on North West Rural Electric Coop electricity rates in Iowa that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump saves about $310 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $4,600 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

- Verdict: **depends on quotes**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new gas furnace and AC: $310 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $4,600 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/ia/north-west-rural-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/ia/north-west-rural-electric-coop.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 | $11,470 | $8,970–$13,960 | – | $800 | $23,500 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $11,470 | $7,980–$14,960 | – | $730 | $22,400 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $14,960 | $10,970–$19,940 | – | $490 | $22,400 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: North West Rural Electric Coop's average residential price in IA (EIA), $0.093/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.077/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 9.3¢/kWh, -35% vs. the Iowa average of 14.2¢/kWh.
- Weather: Sioux Ctr 2 Se, 6,993 heating and 825 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $0.98/therm (Iowa winter average, EIA); propane $1.72/gallon; heating oil $5.77/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Iowa area heat with gas 48%, electricity 34%, propane 14%, other 3% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Iowa HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Iowa, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for North West Rural Electric Coop customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on North West Rural Electric Coop electricity rates in Iowa that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump saves about $310 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $4,600 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on North West Rural Electric Coop's rates?**
About $490 a year for heating and cooling with the High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump option, against $800 for New gas furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: North West Rural Electric Coop's average residential price in IA (EIA), $0.093/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.077/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 Iowa utilities

- [Butler County Rural Elec Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/butler-county-rural-elec-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [East-Central Iowa Rural Elec Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/east-central-iowa-rural-elec-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Eastern Iowa Light & Power Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/eastern-iowa-light-and-power-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Heartland Power Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/heartland-power-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light)](https://meterwise.app/ia/alliant-energy-interstate-power-and-light/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Iowa Lakes Electric Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/iowa-lakes-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [MidAmerican Energy](https://meterwise.app/ia/midamerican-energy/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Midland Power Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/midland-power-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Maquoketa Valley Rrl Elec Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/maquoketa-valley-rrl-elec-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Prairie Energy Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/prairie-energy-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Access Energy Coop](https://meterwise.app/ia/access-energy-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Iowa utilities](https://meterwise.app/ia/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on North West Rural Electric Coop rates (IA)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/ia/north-west-rural-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.