# Heat pump vs. electric furnace and AC on Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc rates (MD)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): 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**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new electric furnace and AC: $1,540 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $23,100 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/md/southern-maryland-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/md/southern-maryland-elec-coop-inc.json

## Typical home: costs by option

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

| Option | Installed (typical) | Installed range | Rebates | Energy per year | 15-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New electric furnace + new AC | $11,280 | $8,160–$14,610 | – | $2,400 | $47,300 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $12,350 | $8,590–$16,110 | – | $860 | $25,300 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $16,110 | $11,810–$21,480 | – | $690 | $26,400 |

## Inputs

- 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. Typical-bill price 18.4¢/kWh, -14% vs. the Maryland average of 21.3¢/kWh.
- Weather: Mechanicsville 5 Ne, 4,589 heating and 1,029 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.60/therm (Maryland winter average, EIA); propane $3.83/gallon; heating oil $6.30/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Maryland area heat with electricity 56%, gas 23%, heating oil 12%, propane 5%, other 4% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Maryland HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Maryland, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc customers?**
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.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc's rates?**
About $860 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $2,400 for New electric furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
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.

## 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 Maryland utilities

- [BGE (Baltimore Gas & Electric)](https://meterwise.app/md/bge-baltimore-gas-and-electric/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Choptank Electric Cooperative, Inc](https://meterwise.app/md/choptank-electric-cooperative-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Delmarva Power](https://meterwise.app/md/delmarva-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [The Potomac Edison Company](https://meterwise.app/md/the-potomac-edison-company/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Pepco (Potomac Electric Power)](https://meterwise.app/md/pepco-potomac-electric-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Maryland utilities](https://meterwise.app/md/index.md)

## Cite this page

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/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.