Heat pump & electric heating cost in Massachusetts
Updated August 2026 · average residential electricity rate
Quick answer: at Massachusetts's 31.2¢/kWh (#48 cheapest of 51), a heat pump delivers heat at $30.48/MMBTU and electric resistance at $91.44/MMBTU. For a 2,000 sq ft cold-climate home, that's about $2,743 vs $8,230 per season — with gas at national-average prices keeping a slight edge over the heat pump.
Compare every fuel at Massachusetts electric rates
Electricity below is preset to 31.2¢/kWh; gas, oil, propane, pellets and firewood start at national averages — edit them to your local quotes.
Estimated heating load: 81 million BTU/season — a rough figure; insulation and thermostat habits move it a lot.
Season cost by fuel (edit any price — it's your local number that matters)
≈ 900 therms · 90% AFUE furnace (standard 80%, condensing up to 97%)
≈ 6.1 tons · 80% efficient pellet stove (75–85% typical)
≈ 5.3 cords · 70% efficient modern EPA wood stove (open fireplaces can be 10% or worse)
≈ 688 gallons · 85% AFUE oil furnace/boiler (older units 80%, new 87%+)
≈ 7,913 kWhs · season-average COP ≈ 3.0 for a modern cold-climate air-source unit (2.0–4.0 depending on climate)
≈ 984 gallons · 90% AFUE propane furnace (condensing up to 97%)
≈ 23,740 kWhs · baseboards, electric furnace or space heaters — 100% efficient at the unit, but every BTU is made from scratch
Estimates: national-average prices (sources on each fuel page) and typical system efficiencies. Your utility bill has your real per-unit price — plug it in above for a number you can act on.
FAQ
How much does a heat pump cost to run in Massachusetts?+
At Massachusetts's average rate of 31.2¢/kWh, a modern heat pump (season-average COP 3) delivers heat at about $30.48 per million BTU — roughly $2,743 per season for a 2,000 sq ft home in a cold climate.
Is electric heating expensive in Massachusetts?+
Electric resistance heating (baseboards, electric furnace) costs about $91.44 per million BTU here — 3× what a heat pump pays for the same warmth, because a heat pump moves heat instead of making it.
Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in Massachusetts?+
At current averages, gas keeps a small edge: about $17.78/MMBTU for a 90% furnace at the national-average gas price versus $30.48 for a heat pump at Massachusetts electric rates. A cheaper electric plan or a high-COP unit can flip it.
Heating is only part of the bill — see what every other appliance costs to run in Massachusetts at the same electricity rate.