Heating · California
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heat Pump in California?
The short answer
Running a 3,000W heat pump in California costs about $1.01 an hour. At 8 hours a day, that’s roughly $245 a month and $2,944 a year.
The estimate uses California’s average residential electricity price of 33.6¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 84% above the national average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Heat Pump cost by daily use in California
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 91.3 | $1.01 | $30.67 | $368 |
| 2 hours/day | 182.5 | $2.02 | $61.34 | $736 |
| 4 hours/day | 365.0 | $4.03 | $123 | $1,472 |
| 8 hours/day | 730.1 | $8.07 | $245 | $2,944 |
| 12 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $12.10 | $368 | $4,416 |
| 24 hours/day | 2,190.2 | $24.20 | $736 | $8,833 |
California vs other states
At typical use, a heat pump costs $2,944 a year in California — $1,261 less than in Hawaii and $1,830 more than in Louisiana.
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. California price per kWh · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in California
33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a heat pump
Heat pumps don't make heat — they move it from the outside air into your home (or the reverse in summer). That is why a heat pump drawing 3,000W can deliver 6,000–12,000W of heat, depending on outdoor temperature. Our estimate uses the electrical draw of the outdoor unit and air handler while the system is running; enter the number of hours per day the system actually runs, not the hours you are home. On very cold days the backup electric resistance strips can switch on and roughly double the draw, so winter bills in cold states can run higher than this estimate.
- Avoid big thermostat setbacks in winter — recovering from a deep setback can trigger expensive backup heat strips.
- Clean or replace the air filter every 1–3 months to keep airflow and efficiency up.
- Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow, leaves and plants.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a heat pump for 24 hours in California?
Running a 3,000W heat pump for 24 hours uses about 72.0 kWh, which costs about $24.20 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a heat pump use per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical heat pump uses about 730 kWh a month. In California that costs $245.
Is it expensive to run a heat pump in California?
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a heat pump here costs about $2,944 a year at typical use, compared with $1,604 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in California right now?
The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% from a year earlier.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a space heater?
Per unit of heat, yes — usually 2–4 times cheaper, because a heat pump moves heat instead of making it. A space heater only wins if you need to heat one small room for a short time.
Heat Pump costs in nearby states
Other appliances in California
Cheapest and priciest states
Comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Default usage for heat pump: 8 hours a day. Typical power 3,000W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).