# Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on City of Columbus rates (OH)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on City of Columbus electricity rates in Ohio that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $170 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,600 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: $170 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,600 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/oh/city-of-columbus/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/oh/city-of-columbus.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 | $11,640 | $9,110–$14,170 | – | $800 | $23,700 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $11,640 | $8,100–$15,180 | – | $630 | $21,100 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $15,180 | $11,130–$20,240 | – | $490 | $22,500 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: City of Columbus's average residential price in OH (EIA), $0.113/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.102/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 11.3¢/kWh, -39% vs. the Ohio average of 18.4¢/kWh.
- Weather: Columbus-Valley Crossing, 5,358 heating and 1,016 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.20/therm (Ohio winter average, EIA); propane $2.66/gallon; heating oil $6.12/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Ohio area heat with gas 68%, electricity 29%, propane 2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Ohio HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Ohio, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for City of Columbus customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on City of Columbus electricity rates in Ohio that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $170 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,600 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on City of Columbus's rates?**
About $630 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $800 for New gas furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: City of Columbus's average residential price in OH (EIA), $0.113/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.102/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 Ohio utilities

- [Buckeye Rural Elec Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/oh/buckeye-rural-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Butler Rural Electric Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/oh/butler-rural-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Duke Energy Ohio Inc](https://meterwise.app/oh/duke-energy-ohio-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Cleveland Electric Illum Co](https://meterwise.app/oh/cleveland-electric-illum-co/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [AES Ohio (Dayton Power & Light)](https://meterwise.app/oh/aes-ohio-dayton-power-and-light/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Guernsey-Muskingum El Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/oh/guernsey-muskingum-el-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Hancock-Wood Electric Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/oh/hancock-wood-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Licking Rural Electric Inc](https://meterwise.app/oh/licking-rural-electric-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Midwest Electric, Inc](https://meterwise.app/oh/midwest-electric-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Consolidated Cooperative](https://meterwise.app/oh/consolidated-cooperative/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [North Central Elec Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/oh/north-central-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Ohio Edison (FirstEnergy)](https://meterwise.app/oh/ohio-edison-firstenergy/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Ohio utilities](https://meterwise.app/oh/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on City of Columbus rates (OH)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/oh/city-of-columbus/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.