Heat pump & electric heating cost in Wisconsin
Updated August 2026 · average residential electricity rate
Quick answer: at Wisconsin's 17.2¢/kWh (#36 cheapest of 51), a heat pump delivers heat at $16.80/MMBTU and electric resistance at $50.41/MMBTU. For a 2,000 sq ft cold-climate home, that's about $1,512 vs $4,537 per season — and the heat pump beats a gas furnace at national-average gas prices.
Compare every fuel at Wisconsin electric rates
Electricity below is preset to 17.2¢/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)
≈ 7,913 kWhs · season-average COP ≈ 3.0 for a modern cold-climate air-source unit (2.0–4.0 depending on climate)
≈ 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%+)
≈ 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 Wisconsin?+
At Wisconsin's average rate of 17.2¢/kWh, a modern heat pump (season-average COP 3) delivers heat at about $16.80 per million BTU — roughly $1,512 per season for a 2,000 sq ft home in a cold climate.
Is electric heating expensive in Wisconsin?+
Electric resistance heating (baseboards, electric furnace) costs about $50.41 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 Wisconsin?+
At current averages, yes: a heat pump delivers heat at $16.80/MMBTU versus about $17.78 for a 90% gas furnace at the national-average gas price. Check your own gas rate — local utility prices vary.
Heating is only part of the bill — see what every other appliance costs to run in Wisconsin at the same electricity rate.