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 Kentucky: electricity vs gas

With electricity at 13.24 cents per kWh and natural gas at $14.23 per Mcf in 2025, one MMBtu of heat costs $14.46 from a gas furnace, $12.93 from a heat pump and $38.80 from resistance heating in Kentucky.

Your Kentucky heating cost

    Kentucky inputs: 13.24 ¢ per kWh, $14.23 per Mcf, fuel only; the need is an illustration. Method.

    The numbers

    Electricity 2025
    13.24 ¢/kWhrank 34 of 45 states by price
    Natural gas 2025
    $14.23 per Mcfrank 24 of 45 states by gas price
    Gas furnace
    $14.46 per MMBtu95% efficiency, rank 24 of 45
    Heat pump
    $12.93 per MMBturank 12 of 45 states, COP 3.0 assumed
    Electric resistance
    $38.80 per MMBtu2.7 times a furnace
    Break-even COP
    2.68a heat pump above it beats gas; rank 15 of 45
    Annual cost at 50 MMBtu
    $647 heat pumpfuel only
    Homes heated by electricity
    54%36% utility gas, 6% propane, 1% oil
    Electricity since 2024
    +3.5%
    Gas since 2024
    +4.6%
    2026 to date
    power +8.7%, gas +19.8%January to Jul against 2025
    Winter load
    +65% over spring and fallsummer +58%: a winter-peaking state
    Heating degree-days, normal year
    4,6541991 to 2020; 2025 had 4,275, rank 29 of 42 states by normal HDD
    Occupied homes in Kentucky (ACS 2023)
    1,791,991973,813 electric, 639,384 utility gas, 113,154 propane, 12,283 oil; 94 of 120 counties are over half electric
    Generating capacity in Kentucky
    22,180 MWEIA-860 2025; 1,467 MW under construction

    Kentucky charts

    One MMBtu of heat in Kentucky

    $14.46 gas, $12.93 heat pump, $38.80 resistance.

    $ per MMBtu

    • Electric resistance38.8
    • Heat pump, COP 3.012.9
    • Gas furnace, 95%14.5

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

    CSV

    Prices since 2015, Kentucky

    Electricity $38.80 and gas $14 per MMBtu of energy in 2025.

    Fuel cost per MMBtu, Kentucky, 2015 to 2025: 11 rows
    YearKentucky electricityKentucky gas
    201530.010.5
    201630.79.8
    201731.811.2
    201831.110.2
    201931.710.5
    202031.910.8
    202133.711.8
    202237.814.1
    202337.115.0
    202437.513.1
    202538.813.7

    11 rows from EIA retail sales and natural gas prices.

    CSV

    How Kentucky heats

    54% electric.

    % of homes

    • Electricity54.3
    • Utility gas35.7
    • Propane6.3
    • Fuel oil0.7
    • Wood2.1

    Kentucky, How Kentucky homes are heated: Census ACS 2023, table B25040.

    CSV

    Break-even COP by month, Kentucky

    1.08 to 3.64 across the months shown.

    Break-even COP by month, Kentucky: 12 rows
    Month20252026
    Jan3.643.24
    Feb3.242.68
    Mar2.622.24
    Apr2.311.60
    May1.601.47
    Jun1.221.24
    Jul1.091.08
    Aug1.11No data
    Sep1.20No data
    Oct1.99No data
    Nov2.82No data
    Dec3.05No data

    12 rows from EIA retail sales.

    CSV

    How Kentucky homes heat

    Kentucky main fuelKentucky homesKentucky shareKentucky rank among states
    Electricity973,81354.3%11 of 45
    Utility gas639,38435.7%33 of 45
    Propane113,1546.3%19 of 45
    Fuel oil12,2830.7%22 of 45
    Wood37,3902.1%16 of 45

    Kentucky has 22,180 MW of operable generating capacity (EIA-860, 2025), largest in coal at 10,261 MW; 1,467 MW is under construction and 1,895 MW planned, which matters if heat pumps add winter load.

    23 Kentucky utilities report meters to EIA-861: 81.4% of 2,090,402 home meters are smart (AMI), 9 offer a home time-of-use rate and 6,868 homes are on dynamic pricing.

    Kentucky counties by electric heating

    Largest electric share first, then the smallest; 20 counties.

    Kentucky countyKentucky residentsKentucky electric heatKentucky utility gasKentucky propaneKentucky median income
    Harlan County26,18585%3%5%$37,198
    Pulaski County65,50382%10%3%$50,943
    Laurel County62,73181%9%6%$56,999
    Madison County94,06481%15%2%$62,407
    Pike County57,46679%13%4%$42,179
    Letcher County21,14678%4%12%$40,501
    Bell County23,87877%13%2%$32,403
    Allen County21,02976%9%7%$59,029
    Lincoln County24,41575%11%4%$50,862
    Perry County27,84774%16%6%$45,261
    Oldham County68,60045%50%4%$121,491
    Greenup County35,63944%42%10%$59,613
    Campbell County93,19343%48%5%$77,271
    Logan County27,73143%30%24%$61,535
    McCracken County67,58442%50%7%$62,385
    Kenton County169,81741%52%4%$79,421
    Marshall County31,72840%43%15%$63,611
    Jefferson County777,39238%60%1%$67,849
    Graves County36,61238%37%21%$50,576
    Daviess County103,19532%63%4%$65,323

    Kentucky month by month

    MonthKentucky electricity ¢/kWhKentucky gas $/McfHeat pump $/MMBtuGas furnace $/MMBtuKentucky break-even COP
    Jul 202613.81$36.74$13.5$37.31.08
    Jun 202614.26$33.20$13.9$33.71.24
    May 202614.98$29.48$14.6$30.01.47
    Apr 202615.02$27.06$14.7$27.51.60
    Mar 202614.88$19.12$14.5$19.42.24
    Feb 202613.42$14.45$13.1$14.72.68
    Jan 202614.27$12.72$13.9$12.93.24
    Dec 202513.22$12.52$12.9$12.73.05
    Nov 202513.70$14.02$13.4$14.22.82
    Oct 202513.62$19.73$13.3$20.01.99
    Sep 202513.56$32.62$13.2$33.11.20
    Aug 202513.17$34.09$12.9$34.61.11
    Jul 202513.13$34.65$12.8$35.21.09
    Jun 202513.40$31.63$13.1$32.11.22
    May 202513.85$25.00$13.5$25.41.60
    Apr 202513.69$17.12$13.4$17.42.31
    Mar 202513.20$14.55$12.9$14.82.62
    Feb 202512.82$11.43$12.5$11.63.24
    Jan 202512.43$9.86$12.1$10.03.64

    Heating season

    A normal year in Kentucky brings 4,654 heating degree-days and 1,182 cooling degree-days (1991 to 2020). Months above 300 heating degree-days in a normal year: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec. 2025 had 4,275, 8% below normal; the highest of 2015 to 2025 was 4,474 in 2022.

    Kentucky degree-days by year

    Heating and cooling degree-days, Kentucky, 2015 to 2025: 11 rows
    Kentucky yearHeating (HDD)Cooling (CDD)Normal HDDNormal CDD
    20154303124746541182
    20164075149846541182
    20173802116146541182
    20184466153046541182
    20194190143946541182
    20204078120846541182
    20214165125946541182
    20224474130446541182
    20233681116346541182
    20243667142146541182
    20254275139446541182

    NOAA nClimDiv degree-days for Kentucky, 2015 to 2025, pulled 2 Oct 2026.

    CSV

    Heating degree-days by month

    Heating degree-days by month, Kentucky: 12 rows
    Month2025Normal
    Jan1137983
    Feb739815
    Mar460624
    Apr213303
    May113114
    Jun09
    Jul00
    Aug02
    Sep2544
    Oct206272
    Nov535590
    Dec847898

    NOAA nClimDiv degree-days for Kentucky by month, 2025.

    CSV
    Kentucky, 2025 by month: 12 rows
    MonthHDD 2025HDD normalCDD 2025CDD normal
    Jan1,13798301
    Feb73981500
    Mar460624177
    Apr213303188
    May1131148795
    Jun09308237
    Jul00459347
    Aug02291311
    Sep2544182154
    Oct2062723222
    Nov53559000
    Dec84789800

    NOAA nClimDiv degree-days for Kentucky, 2025 by month.

    CSV

    Analyst note

    Electric heating stands out in Kentucky: 54.3% of 1,791,991 homes, rank 11 of 45. Main heating fuel in Kentucky is electricity (54% of homes); electricity heats 54% and utility gas 36%. Since 2024 electricity moved +3.5% and gas +4.6%; in 2026 to date power is +8.7% and gas +19.8% on a year earlier. A COP 3.0 heat pump beats a furnace here by $1.52 per MMBtu; the break-even COP of 2.68 ranks 15 of 45. The most electric counties of Kentucky with 20,000+ residents are led by Harlan County at 85% of homes. A normal Kentucky year has 4,654 heating degree-days, and 2025 had 4,275, so heating demand ran 8% below the 1991 to 2020 normal.

    States with a similar break-even

    State near KentuckyBreak-even COP near KentuckyGas, $ per MMBtuHeat pump, $ per MMBtu
    Oregon2.65$16.98$15.02
    Alabama2.64$17.84$15.73
    Oklahoma2.63$14.61$12.82
    Virginia2.62$17.06$14.93
    Missouri2.60$15.18$13.18
    Kansas2.84$15.05$14.22

    Questions on heating in Kentucky

    How electric is heating in Kentucky?

    54.3% of 1,791,991 homes, 973,813 in all, ranks 11 of 45 states; 94 of 120 counties are over half electric.

    Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in Kentucky?

    Yes on fuel cost: $12.93 per MMBtu against $14.46 for gas, break-even COP 2.68.

    Which Kentucky county has the most electric heating?

    Harlan County: 85% of 10,500 homes among counties with 20,000+ residents, median income $37,198.

    What share of Kentucky homes heat with electricity?

    54% of 1,791,991 occupied homes in ACS 2023, against 36% with utility gas.

    Where does Kentucky rank on heat pump cost?

    12 of 45 at $12.93 per MMBtu; North Dakota is lowest at $11.54.

    Is Kentucky a winter or summer electricity state?

    Winter use runs +65% over spring and fall, summer +58%: heating drives the load.

    Did gas or electricity get more expensive in Kentucky in 2026?

    January to Jul: electricity +8.7%, gas +19.8% on a year earlier.

    How much generating capacity does Kentucky have?

    22,180 MW operable in 2025, 1,467 MW under construction, 1,895 MW planned (EIA-860).

    How many Kentucky homes have smart meters?

    81.4% of 2,090,402 home meters, 9 of 23 reporting utilities offer time-of-use.

    More on Kentucky

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    With electricity at 13.24 cents per kWh and natural gas at $14.23 per Mcf in 2025, one MMBtu of heat costs $14.46 from a gas furnace, $12.93 from a heat pump and $38.80…