U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Heating · Delaware

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heat Pump in Delaware?

The short answer

In Delaware, a heat pump drawing 3,000W costs about $0.55 per hour — roughly $135 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.

The estimate uses Delaware’s average residential electricity price of 18.5¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — about the same as the national average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Heat Pump cost by daily use in Delaware

Cost at 18.5¢/kWh, the Delaware average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 91.3 $0.55 $16.86 $202
2 hours/day 182.5 $1.11 $33.73 $405
4 hours/day 365.0 $2.22 $67.46 $809
8 hours/day 730.1 $4.44 $135 $1,619
12 hours/day 1,095.1 $6.65 $202 $2,428
24 hours/day 2,190.2 $13.31 $405 $4,857

Delaware vs other states

At typical use, a heat pump costs $1,619 a year in Delaware — $2,586 less than in Hawaii and $505 more than in Louisiana.

Delaware has the 19th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Delaware price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Delaware

18.5¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.5% 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 Delaware?

Running a 3,000W heat pump for 24 hours uses about 72.0 kWh, which costs about $13.31 at Delaware’s average rate of 18.5¢/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 Delaware that costs $135.

Is it expensive to run a heat pump in Delaware?

Delaware has the 19th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 18.5¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a heat pump here costs about $1,619 a year at typical use, compared with $1,604 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Delaware right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Delaware was 18.5¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.5% 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

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method