# Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on Duke Energy Carolinas rates (NC)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on Duke Energy Carolinas electricity rates in North Carolina that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $250 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $3,800 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: $250 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $3,800 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/nc/duke-energy-carolinas/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/nc/duke-energy-carolinas.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 | $11,140 | $8,720–$13,570 | – | $860 | $24,000 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $11,140 | $7,750–$14,540 | – | $600 | $20,200 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $14,540 | $10,660–$19,380 | – | $470 | $21,600 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: Residential Service (RES-55) Single Phase tariff for Duke Energy Carolinas, effective 2026-02-01, from the U.S. Utility Rate Database, applied tier by tier to the extra kWh. Typical-bill price 16.2¢/kWh, +9% vs. the North Carolina average of 14.9¢/kWh.
- Weather: Charlotte Douglas AP, 3,058 heating and 1,768 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.78/therm (North Carolina winter average, EIA); propane $3.62/gallon; heating oil $5.84/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's North Carolina area heat with electricity 59%, gas 31%, propane 5%, heating oil 3%, other 2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and North Carolina HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in North Carolina, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for Duke Energy Carolinas customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on Duke Energy Carolinas electricity rates in North Carolina that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $250 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $3,800 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on Duke Energy Carolinas's rates?**
About $600 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $860 for New gas furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: Residential Service (RES-55) Single Phase tariff for Duke Energy Carolinas, effective 2026-02-01, 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 North Carolina utilities

- [Albemarle Electric Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/nc/albemarle-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Blue Ridge Elec Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/nc/blue-ridge-elec-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Duke Energy Progress](https://meterwise.app/nc/duke-energy-progress/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Carteret-Craven El Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/nc/carteret-craven-el-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Central Electric Membership Corp.](https://meterwise.app/nc/central-electric-membership-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Edgecombe-Martin County E M C](https://meterwise.app/nc/edgecombe-martin-county-e-m-c/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Four County Elec Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/nc/four-county-elec-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [French Broad Elec Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/nc/french-broad-elec-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Haywood Electric Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/nc/haywood-electric-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Jones-Onslow Elec Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/nc/jones-onslow-elec-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Lumbee River Elec Member Corp](https://meterwise.app/nc/lumbee-river-elec-member-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative](https://meterwise.app/nc/mecklenburg-electric-cooperative/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All North Carolina utilities](https://meterwise.app/nc/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on Duke Energy Carolinas rates (NC)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/nc/duke-energy-carolinas/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.