# Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light) rates (NJ)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light) electricity rates in New Jersey that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump costs about $80 a year more to run, so it only comes out ahead if its quote is at least $1,200 below the quote for a new furnace and AC.

- Verdict: **depends on quotes**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new gas furnace and AC: $80 more
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is at least $1,200 below the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/nj/jcp-and-l-jersey-central-power-and-light/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/nj/jcp-and-l-jersey-central-power-and-light.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 | $12,770 | $9,990–$15,540 | – | $1,010 | $27,900 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $12,770 | $8,880–$16,650 | – | $1,080 | $29,000 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $16,650 | $12,210–$22,200 | – | $860 | $29,500 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: Residential Service tariff for JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light), effective 2025-07-01, from the U.S. Utility Rate Database, applied tier by tier to the extra kWh. Typical-bill price 20.3¢/kWh, -14% vs. the New Jersey average of 23.6¢/kWh.
- Weather: Long Branch-Oakhurst HCN, 4,986 heating and 913 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.38/therm (New Jersey winter average, EIA); propane $4.05/gallon; heating oil $6.30/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's New Jersey area heat with gas 72%, electricity 13%, heating oil 10%, propane 3%, other 2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and New Jersey HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in New Jersey, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light) customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light) electricity rates in New Jersey that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump costs about $80 a year more to run, so it only comes out ahead if its quote is at least $1,200 below the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light)'s rates?**
About $1,080 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $1,010 for New gas furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: Residential Service tariff for JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light), 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 New Jersey utilities

- [Atlantic City Electric Co](https://meterwise.app/nj/atlantic-city-electric-co/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [PSE&G (Public Service Electric & Gas)](https://meterwise.app/nj/pse-and-g-public-service-electric-and-gas/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Rockland Electric Co](https://meterwise.app/nj/rockland-electric-co/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All New Jersey utilities](https://meterwise.app/nj/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light) rates (NJ)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/nj/jcp-and-l-jersey-central-power-and-light/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.