# Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on FreeState Electric Coop rates (KS)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on FreeState Electric Coop electricity rates in Kansas that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $100 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $1,500 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: $100 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $1,500 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/ks/freestate-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/ks/freestate-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 | $11,450 | $8,960–$13,940 | – | $980 | $26,100 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $11,450 | $7,970–$14,940 | – | $880 | $24,700 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $14,940 | $10,960–$19,920 | – | $690 | $25,200 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: FreeState Electric Coop's average residential price in KS (EIA), $0.164/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.141/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 16.4¢/kWh, +9% vs. the Kansas average of 15.1¢/kWh.
- Weather: Topeka Forbes Fld, 4,942 heating and 1,496 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.34/therm (Kansas winter average, EIA); propane $2.09/gallon; heating oil $5.97/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Kansas area heat with gas 56%, electricity 27%, propane 14%, other 3% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Kansas HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Kansas, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for FreeState Electric Coop customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on FreeState Electric Coop electricity rates in Kansas that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $100 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $1,500 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on FreeState Electric Coop's rates?**
About $880 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $980 for New gas furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: FreeState Electric Coop's average residential price in KS (EIA), $0.164/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.141/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 Kansas utilities

- [Alfalfa Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/ks/alfalfa-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Empire District Electric Co](https://meterwise.app/ks/empire-district-electric-co/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [City of Kansas City](https://meterwise.app/ks/city-of-kansas-city/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Evergy Metro](https://meterwise.app/ks/evergy-metro/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Evergy Kansas South](https://meterwise.app/ks/evergy-kansas-south/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Midwest Energy Inc](https://meterwise.app/ks/midwest-energy-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Prairie Land Electric Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/ks/prairie-land-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Pioneer Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/ks/pioneer-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Victory Electric Coop Assn Inc](https://meterwise.app/ks/victory-electric-coop-assn-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Western Coop Electric Assn Inc](https://meterwise.app/ks/western-coop-electric-assn-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Wheatland Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/ks/wheatland-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Evergy Kansas Central](https://meterwise.app/ks/evergy-kansas-central/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Kansas utilities](https://meterwise.app/ks/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on FreeState Electric Coop rates (KS)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/ks/freestate-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.