# Heat pump vs. oil furnace and AC on Eastern Maine Electric Coop rates (ME)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft heating oil-heated home on Eastern Maine Electric Coop electricity rates in Maine that needs a new furnace and AC: A high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump comes out ahead here even with a high quote: about $46,200 less than a new furnace and AC over 15 years at typical prices, and $3,180 a year less to run.

- Verdict: **heat pump ahead at any quote**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new oil furnace and AC: $3,180 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $47,700 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/me/eastern-maine-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/me/eastern-maine-electric-coop.json

## Typical home: costs by option

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

| Option | Installed (typical) | Installed range | Rebates | Energy per year | 15-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New oil furnace + new AC | $13,740 | $9,370–$16,900 | – | $4,370 | $79,300 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $11,710 | $8,140–$15,270 | – | $1,860 | $39,500 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $15,270 | $11,200–$20,360 | – | $1,190 | $33,100 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: Eastern Maine Electric Coop's average residential price in ME (EIA), $0.171/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.150/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 17.1¢/kWh, -42% vs. the Maine average of 29.6¢/kWh.
- Weather: Patten, 9,033 heating and 180 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.74/therm (Maine winter average, EIA); propane $3.62/gallon; heating oil $6.00/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Maine area heat with heating oil 63%, other 20%, propane 9%, electricity 8% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Maine HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Maine, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for Eastern Maine Electric Coop customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft heating oil-heated home on Eastern Maine Electric Coop electricity rates in Maine that needs a new furnace and AC: A high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump comes out ahead here even with a high quote: about $46,200 less than a new furnace and AC over 15 years at typical prices, and $3,180 a year less to run.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on Eastern Maine Electric Coop's rates?**
About $1,190 a year for heating and cooling with the High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump option, against $4,370 for New oil furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: Eastern Maine Electric Coop's average residential price in ME (EIA), $0.171/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.150/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 Maine utilities

- [Central Maine Power](https://meterwise.app/me/central-maine-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Maine utilities](https://meterwise.app/me/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. oil furnace and AC on Eastern Maine Electric Coop rates (ME)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/me/eastern-maine-electric-coop/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.