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

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

The short answer

In Iowa, a heat pump drawing 3,000W costs about $0.48 per hour — roughly $117 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.

The estimate uses Iowa’s average residential electricity price of 16.0¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 13% below the national average.

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

Heat Pump cost by daily use in Iowa

Cost at 16.0¢/kWh, the Iowa average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 91.3 $0.48 $14.59 $175
2 hours/day 182.5 $0.96 $29.18 $350
4 hours/day 365.0 $1.92 $58.37 $700
8 hours/day 730.1 $3.84 $117 $1,401
12 hours/day 1,095.1 $5.76 $175 $2,101
24 hours/day 2,190.2 $11.51 $350 $4,202

Iowa vs other states

At typical use, a heat pump costs $1,401 a year in Iowa — $2,804 less than in Hawaii and $286 more than in Louisiana.

Iowa has the 24th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Iowa electricity rates · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Iowa

16.0¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +4.4% 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 Iowa?

Running a 3,000W heat pump for 24 hours uses about 72.0 kWh, which costs about $11.51 at Iowa’s average rate of 16.0¢/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 Iowa that costs $117.

Is it expensive to run a heat pump in Iowa?

Iowa has the 24th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 16.0¢/kWh — close to the middle of the pack. Running a heat pump here costs about $1,401 a year at typical use, compared with $1,604 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Iowa right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Iowa was 16.0¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 4.4% 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