# Heat pump vs. electric furnace and AC on Nueces Electric Cooperative rates (TX)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft electrically heated home on Nueces Electric Cooperative electricity rates in Texas that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $300 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $4,500 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

- Verdict: **depends on quotes**
- Heat pump yearly running cost vs. a new electric furnace and AC: $300 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $4,500 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/tx/nueces-electric-cooperative/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/tx/nueces-electric-cooperative.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 | $10,220 | $7,400–$13,230 | – | $860 | $23,100 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $11,190 | $7,780–$14,600 | – | $550 | $19,500 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $14,600 | $10,700–$19,460 | – | $410 | $20,700 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: Nueces Electric Cooperative's average residential price in TX (EIA), $0.137/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.116/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 13.7¢/kWh, -15% vs. the Texas average of 16.0¢/kWh.
- Weather: Falfurrias HCN, 999 heating and 3,656 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $2.02/therm (Texas winter average, EIA); propane $3.15/gallon; heating oil $6.15/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Texas area heat with electricity 77%, gas 17%, propane 3%, other 2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Texas HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Texas, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for Nueces Electric Cooperative customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft electrically heated home on Nueces Electric Cooperative electricity rates in Texas that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A heat pump saves about $300 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $4,500 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on Nueces Electric Cooperative's rates?**
About $550 a year for heating and cooling with the Heat pump (replaces both) option, against $860 for New electric furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: Nueces Electric Cooperative's average residential price in TX (EIA), $0.137/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.116/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 Texas utilities

- [Austin Energy](https://meterwise.app/tx/austin-energy/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Bailey County Elec Coop Assn](https://meterwise.app/tx/bailey-county-elec-coop-assn/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Bandera Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/tx/bandera-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Bartlett Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/tx/bartlett-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Big Country Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/tx/big-country-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Bluebonnet Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/tx/bluebonnet-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Bowie-Cass Electric Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/tx/bowie-cass-electric-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Central Texas Elec Coop, Inc](https://meterwise.app/tx/central-texas-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Concho Valley Elec Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/tx/concho-valley-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Cooke County Elec Coop Assn](https://meterwise.app/tx/cooke-county-elec-coop-assn/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Comanche County Elec Coop Assn](https://meterwise.app/tx/comanche-county-elec-coop-assn/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Deep East Texas Elec Coop Inc](https://meterwise.app/tx/deep-east-texas-elec-coop-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Texas utilities](https://meterwise.app/tx/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. electric furnace and AC on Nueces Electric Cooperative rates (TX)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/tx/nueces-electric-cooperative/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.