# Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on High Plains Power Inc rates (WY)

> **Quick answer** (updated 2026-11-10): As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on High Plains Power Inc electricity rates in Wyoming that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump saves about $180 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,800 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: $180 less
- Break-even quote gap: the heat pump wins over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,800 above the like-for-like quote
- Interactive calculator (change size, insulation, fuel, prices, ZIP): https://meterwise.app/wy/high-plains-power-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
- Machine-readable data: https://meterwise.app/data/v1/utilities/wy/high-plains-power-inc.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 | $10,900 | $8,530–$13,270 | – | $970 | $25,500 |
| Heat pump (replaces both) | $10,900 | $7,580–$14,220 | – | $1,130 | $27,800 |
| High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump | $14,220 | $10,430–$18,960 | – | $790 | $26,100 |

## Inputs

- Electricity: High Plains Power Inc's average residential price in WY (EIA), $0.137/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.115/kWh. Enter your own rate for a closer answer. Typical-bill price 13.7¢/kWh, -3% vs. the Wyoming average of 14.1¢/kWh.
- Weather: Powder Rvr (School), 8,059 heating and 330 cooling degree days a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
- Gas: $1.06/therm (Wyoming winter average, EIA); propane $2.33/gallon; heating oil $6.15/gallon.
- Homes in this utility's Wyoming area heat with gas 61%, electricity 24%, propane 9%, other 6% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023).
- Installed prices: published study ranges, scaled for home size and Wyoming HVAC installer wages (BLS).
- Rebates: not yet checked in Wyoming, so not included.

## Common questions

**Is a heat pump worth it for High Plains Power Inc customers?**
As of November 2026, for a typical 1,800 sq ft gas-heated home on High Plains Power Inc electricity rates in Wyoming that needs a new furnace and AC: It depends on your quotes. A high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump saves about $180 a year to run, so it comes out ahead over 15 years if its quote is no more than $2,800 above the quote for a new furnace and AC.

**How much does a heat pump cost to run on High Plains Power Inc's rates?**
About $790 a year for heating and cooling with the High-efficiency cold-climate heat pump option, against $970 for New gas furnace + new AC.

**What electricity price does this use?**
Electricity: High Plains Power Inc's average residential price in WY (EIA), $0.137/kWh; the winter price of extra kWh is estimated at $0.115/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 Wyoming utilities

- [Cheyenne Light Fuel & Power](https://meterwise.app/wy/cheyenne-light-fuel-and-power/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Lower Valley Energy Inc](https://meterwise.app/wy/lower-valley-energy-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [NorthWestern Energy](https://meterwise.app/wy/northwestern-energy/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp)](https://meterwise.app/wy/rocky-mountain-power-pacificorp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [Powder River Energy Corp](https://meterwise.app/wy/powder-river-energy-corp/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [High West Energy, Inc](https://meterwise.app/wy/high-west-energy-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/index.md)
- [All Wyoming utilities](https://meterwise.app/wy/index.md)

## Cite this page

MeterWise, "Heat pump vs. gas furnace and AC on High Plains Power Inc rates (WY)", updated 2026-11-10, https://meterwise.app/wy/high-plains-power-inc/heat-pump-vs-furnace/. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.