Electric Consumer

Editor: Katerine G., Editor & Data Researcher · Research & publishing: Electric Consumer Editorial Team · Data retrieved · Sources named on this page: EIA-861, EIA retail sales, EIA-860/923, Census ACS, NOAA · How we got these numbers · Report an error

Cost to heat a home in District of Columbia: electricity vs gas

With electricity at 21.94 cents per kWh and natural gas at $16.68 per Mcf in 2025, one MMBtu of heat costs $16.95 from a gas furnace, $21.43 from a heat pump and $64.30 from resistance heating in District of Columbia.

In District of Columbia many households choose their energy supplier. How to compare.

Your District of Columbia heating cost

    District of Columbia inputs: 21.94 ¢ per kWh, $16.68 per Mcf, fuel only; the need is an illustration. Method.

    The numbers

    Electricity 2025
    21.94 ¢/kWhrank 9 of 45 states by price
    Natural gas 2025
    $16.68 per Mcfrank 17 of 45 states by gas price
    Gas furnace
    $16.95 per MMBtu95% efficiency, rank 17 of 45
    Heat pump
    $21.43 per MMBturank 37 of 45 states, COP 3.0 assumed
    Electric resistance
    $64.30 per MMBtu3.8 times a furnace
    Break-even COP
    3.79a heat pump above it beats gas; rank 30 of 45
    Annual cost at 50 MMBtu
    $1,072 heat pumpfuel only
    Homes heated by electricity
    46%49% utility gas, 1% propane, 1% oil
    Electricity since 2024
    +23.9%
    Gas since 2024
    +1.2%
    2026 to date
    power +17.9%, gas +12.3%January to Jul against 2025
    Winter load
    +55% over spring and fallsummer +52%: a winter-peaking state
    Occupied homes in District of Columbia (ACS 2023)
    321,556146,754 electric, 158,327 utility gas, 3,473 propane, 3,083 oil; 0 of 1 county are over half electric
    Generating capacity in District of Columbia
    72 MWEIA-860 2025; 6 MW under construction

    District of Columbia charts

    One MMBtu of heat in District of Columbia

    $16.95 gas, $21.43 heat pump, $64.30 resistance.

    $ per MMBtu

    • Electric resistance64.3
    • Heat pump, COP 3.021.4
    • Gas furnace, 95%16.9

    District of Columbia, Cost of one MMBtu of heat in District of Columbia: EIA retail sales and natural gas prices.

    CSV

    Prices since 2015, District of Columbia

    Electricity $64.30 and gas $16 per MMBtu of energy in 2025.

    Fuel cost per MMBtu, District of Columbia, 2015 to 2025: 11 rows
    YearDistrict of Columbia electricityDistrict of Columbia gas
    201538.111.6
    201636.010.5
    201737.912.1
    201837.611.4
    201938.012.4
    202037.011.5
    202138.413.8
    202241.616.1
    202348.216.2
    202451.915.9
    202564.316.1

    11 rows from EIA retail sales and natural gas prices.

    CSV

    How District of Columbia heats

    46% electric.

    % of homes

    • Electricity45.6
    • Utility gas49.2
    • Propane1.1
    • Fuel oil1.0
    • Wood0.0

    District of Columbia, How District of Columbia homes are heated: Census ACS 2023, table B25040.

    CSV

    Break-even COP by month, District of Columbia

    2.30 to 4.51 across the months shown.

    Break-even COP by month, District of Columbia: 12 rows
    Month20252026
    Jan3.874.37
    Feb3.914.21
    Mar3.584.00
    Apr3.173.63
    May2.733.33
    Jun2.862.58
    Jul2.582.30
    Aug2.48No data
    Sep2.76No data
    Oct2.96No data
    Nov4.04No data
    Dec4.51No data

    12 rows from EIA retail sales.

    CSV

    How District of Columbia homes heat

    District of Columbia main fuelDistrict of Columbia homesDistrict of Columbia shareDistrict of Columbia rank among states
    Electricity146,75445.6%14 of 45
    Utility gas158,32749.2%24 of 45
    Propane3,4731.1%44 of 45
    Fuel oil3,0831.0%19 of 45
    Wood00.0%45 of 45

    District of Columbia has 72 MW of operable generating capacity (EIA-860, 2025), largest in utility-scale solar at 35 MW; 6 MW is under construction and 0 MW planned, which matters if heat pumps add winter load.

    3 District of Columbia utilities report meters to EIA-861: 99.5% of 323,152 home meters are smart (AMI), 0 offer a home time-of-use rate and 0 homes are on dynamic pricing.

    District of Columbia counties by electric heating

    Largest electric share first, then the smallest; 1 county.

    District of Columbia countyDistrict of Columbia residentsDistrict of Columbia electric heatDistrict of Columbia utility gasDistrict of Columbia propaneDistrict of Columbia median income
    District of Columbia672,07946%49%1%$106,287

    District of Columbia month by month

    MonthDistrict of Columbia electricity ¢/kWhDistrict of Columbia gas $/McfHeat pump $/MMBtuGas furnace $/MMBtuDistrict of Columbia break-even COP
    Jul 202625.21$31.62$24.6$32.12.30
    Jun 202624.39$27.28$23.8$27.72.58
    May 202625.40$22.01$24.8$22.43.33
    Apr 202625.41$20.17$24.8$20.53.63
    Mar 202625.00$18.01$24.4$18.34.00
    Feb 202623.97$16.42$23.4$16.74.21
    Jan 202623.72$15.67$23.2$15.94.37
    Dec 202523.90$15.29$23.3$15.54.51
    Nov 202522.72$16.24$22.2$16.54.04
    Oct 202523.92$23.27$23.4$23.62.96
    Sep 202523.67$24.76$23.1$25.22.76
    Aug 202523.19$26.97$22.7$27.42.48
    Jul 202523.04$25.77$22.5$26.22.58
    Jun 202522.70$22.91$22.2$23.32.86
    May 202520.43$21.57$20.0$21.92.73
    Apr 202521.32$19.42$20.8$19.73.17
    Mar 202520.40$16.45$19.9$16.73.58
    Feb 202519.71$14.53$19.3$14.83.91
    Jan 202518.83$14.02$18.4$14.23.87

    Heating season

    No data: NOAA nClimDiv has no statewide degree days for District of Columbia.

    Analyst note

    Wood stands out in District of Columbia: 0 homes, 0.0%, rank 45 of 45. Main heating fuel in District of Columbia is utility gas (49% of homes); electricity heats 46% and utility gas 49%. Since 2024 electricity moved +23.9% and gas +1.2%; in 2026 to date power is +17.9% and gas +12.3% on a year earlier. A COP 3.0 heat pump trails a furnace here by $4.49 per MMBtu; the break-even COP of 3.79 ranks 30 of 45. The most electric counties of District of Columbia with 20,000+ residents are led by District of Columbia at 46% of homes.

    States with a similar break-even

    State near District of ColumbiaBreak-even COP near District of ColumbiaGas, $ per MMBtuHeat pump, $ per MMBtu
    New Hampshire3.81$18.91$23.99
    Iowa3.73$10.78$13.40
    Pennsylvania3.70$15.28$18.85
    Utah3.70$10.35$12.77
    South Dakota3.91$10.02$13.07
    Vermont3.67$18.29$22.39

    Questions on heating in District of Columbia

    How many District of Columbia homes heat with wood?

    0 of 321,556 homes, 0.0%, ranks 45 of 45 states.

    Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in District of Columbia?

    No on fuel cost: $21.43 per MMBtu against $16.95 for gas, break-even COP 3.79.

    Which District of Columbia county has the most electric heating?

    District of Columbia: 46% of 321,556 homes among counties with 20,000+ residents, median income $106,287.

    What share of District of Columbia homes heat with electricity?

    46% of 321,556 occupied homes in ACS 2023, against 49% with utility gas.

    Where does District of Columbia rank on heat pump cost?

    37 of 45 at $21.43 per MMBtu; North Dakota is lowest at $11.54.

    Is District of Columbia a winter or summer electricity state?

    Winter use runs +55% over spring and fall, summer +52%: heating drives the load.

    Did gas or electricity get more expensive in District of Columbia in 2026?

    January to Jul: electricity +17.9%, gas +12.3% on a year earlier.

    How much generating capacity does District of Columbia have?

    72 MW operable in 2025, 6 MW under construction, 0 MW planned (EIA-860).

    How many District of Columbia homes have smart meters?

    99.5% of 323,152 home meters, 0 of 3 reporting utilities offer time-of-use.

    More on District of Columbia

    Share this page

    With electricity at 21.94 cents per kWh and natural gas at $16.68 per Mcf in 2025, one MMBtu of heat costs $16.95 from a gas furnace, $21.43 from a heat pump and $64.30…