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 Washington: electricity vs gas

With electricity at 13.17 cents per kWh and natural gas at $17.62 per Mcf in 2025, one MMBtu of heat costs $17.90 from a gas furnace, $12.87 from a heat pump and $38.60 from resistance heating in Washington.

Your Washington heating cost

    Washington inputs: 13.17 ¢ per kWh, $17.62 per Mcf, fuel only; the need is an illustration. Method.

    The numbers

    Electricity 2025
    13.17 ¢/kWhrank 37 of 45 states by price
    Natural gas 2025
    $17.62 per Mcfrank 11 of 45 states by gas price
    Gas furnace
    $17.90 per MMBtu95% efficiency, rank 11 of 45
    Heat pump
    $12.87 per MMBturank 9 of 45 states, COP 3.0 assumed
    Electric resistance
    $38.60 per MMBtu2.2 times a furnace
    Break-even COP
    2.16a heat pump above it beats gas; rank 5 of 45
    Annual cost at 50 MMBtu
    $643 heat pumpfuel only
    Homes heated by electricity
    58%34% utility gas, 3% propane, 1% oil
    Electricity since 2024
    +10.7%
    Gas since 2024
    +38.5%
    2026 to date
    power +11.6%, gas -0.0%January to Aug against 2025
    Winter load
    +58% over spring and fallsummer +3%: a winter-peaking state
    Heating degree-days, normal year
    5,6101991 to 2020; 2025 had 5,191, rank 21 of 42 states by normal HDD
    Occupied homes in Washington (ACS 2023)
    3,020,5581,742,020 electric, 1,012,446 utility gas, 92,425 propane, 42,986 oil; 33 of 39 counties are over half electric
    Generating capacity in Washington
    31,708 MWEIA-860 2025; 130 MW under construction

    Washington charts

    One MMBtu of heat in Washington

    $17.90 gas, $12.87 heat pump, $38.60 resistance.

    $ per MMBtu

    • Electric resistance38.6
    • Heat pump, COP 3.012.9
    • Gas furnace, 95%17.9

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

    CSV

    Prices since 2015, Washington

    Electricity $38.60 and gas $17 per MMBtu of energy in 2025.

    Fuel cost per MMBtu, Washington, 2015 to 2025: 11 rows
    YearWashington electricityWashington gas
    201526.611.4
    201627.810.4
    201728.310.3
    201828.69.9
    201928.59.5
    202028.910.6
    202129.611.2
    202230.112.4
    202332.215.0
    202434.912.3
    202538.617.0

    11 rows from EIA retail sales and natural gas prices.

    CSV

    How Washington heats

    58% electric.

    % of homes

    • Electricity57.7
    • Utility gas33.5
    • Propane3.1
    • Fuel oil1.4
    • Wood3.0

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

    CSV

    Break-even COP by month, Washington

    1.51 to 2.48 across the months shown.

    Break-even COP by month, Washington: 12 rows
    Month20252026
    Jan2.172.29
    Feb2.142.35
    Mar2.08No data
    Apr2.042.21
    May1.992.11
    Jun1.782.02
    Jul1.511.65
    Aug1.57No data
    Sep1.70No data
    Oct2.17No data
    Nov2.39No data
    Dec2.48No data

    12 rows from EIA retail sales.

    CSV

    How Washington homes heat

    Washington main fuelWashington homesWashington shareWashington rank among states
    Electricity1,742,02057.7%8 of 45
    Utility gas1,012,44633.5%35 of 45
    Propane92,4253.1%34 of 45
    Fuel oil42,9861.4%14 of 45
    Wood91,9763.0%10 of 45

    Washington has 31,708 MW of operable generating capacity (EIA-860, 2025), largest in hydro (conventional) at 21,776 MW; 130 MW is under construction and 1,896 MW planned, which matters if heat pumps add winter load.

    8 Washington utilities report meters to EIA-861: 69.4% of 3,385,148 home meters are smart (AMI), 4 offer a home time-of-use rate and 8,971 homes are on dynamic pricing.

    Washington counties by electric heating

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

    Washington countyWashington residentsWashington electric heatWashington utility gasWashington propaneWashington median income
    Douglas County43,73396%2%1%$80,374
    Grant County100,42895%3%1%$71,115
    Chelan County79,51893%3%1%$78,306
    Clallam County77,59386%1%3%$67,999
    Cowlitz County111,53985%6%1%$72,932
    Benton County210,22479%18%1%$87,316
    Pacific County23,75077%2%7%$62,350
    Lewis County83,92575%8%3%$69,690
    Grays Harbor County76,39773%10%5%$63,539
    Mason County66,96873%7%7%$78,359
    Island County86,74756%16%18%$88,358
    Kittitas County44,73656%19%12%$69,928
    Walla Walla County62,10254%39%2%$72,212
    King County2,262,71353%41%2%$122,148
    Snohomish County834,64852%40%4%$107,982
    Whatcom County228,43246%40%9%$80,989
    Spokane County544,32344%49%1%$73,513
    Stevens County47,47041%22%5%$67,405
    Asotin County22,42440%52%3%$69,107
    Skagit County130,40740%43%9%$85,474

    Washington month by month

    MonthWashington electricity ¢/kWhWashington gas $/McfHeat pump $/MMBtuGas furnace $/MMBtuWashington break-even COP
    Jul 202614.71$25.72$14.4$26.11.65
    Jun 202614.91$21.34$14.6$21.72.02
    May 202614.95$20.41$14.6$20.72.11
    Apr 202614.36$18.70$14.0$19.02.21
    Feb 202614.10$17.32$13.8$17.62.35
    Jan 202613.80$17.38$13.5$17.72.29
    Dec 202513.35$15.51$13.0$15.82.48
    Nov 202513.86$16.72$13.5$17.02.39
    Oct 202514.07$18.72$13.7$19.02.17
    Sep 202513.80$23.40$13.5$23.81.70
    Aug 202513.65$25.05$13.3$25.51.57
    Jul 202513.47$25.71$13.2$26.11.51
    Jun 202513.63$22.11$13.3$22.51.78
    May 202513.67$19.80$13.4$20.11.99
    Apr 202513.04$18.43$12.7$18.72.04
    Mar 202512.64$17.55$12.3$17.82.08
    Feb 202512.50$16.82$12.2$17.12.14
    Jan 202511.80$15.71$11.5$16.02.17

    Heating season

    A normal year in Washington brings 5,610 heating degree-days and 182 cooling degree-days (1991 to 2020). Months above 300 heating degree-days in a normal year: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec. 2025 had 5,191, 7% below normal; the highest of 2015 to 2025 was 5,794 in 2017.

    Washington degree-days by year

    Heating and cooling degree-days, Washington, 2015 to 2025: 11 rows
    Washington yearHeating (HDD)Cooling (CDD)Normal HDDNormal CDD
    201548893075610182
    201651261745610182
    201757942545610182
    201853822375610182
    201957501855610182
    202054161835610182
    202155622785610182
    202257883055610182
    202353372755610182
    202453532515610182
    202551912955610182

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

    CSV

    Heating degree-days by month

    Heating degree-days by month, Washington: 12 rows
    Month2025Normal
    Jan897851
    Feb801717
    Mar623671
    Apr458508
    May318324
    Jun140187
    Jul4775
    Aug3369
    Sep99179
    Oct463461
    Nov596695
    Dec716873

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

    CSV
    Washington, 2025 by month: 12 rows
    MonthHDD 2025HDD normalCDD 2025CDD normal
    Jan89785100
    Feb80171700
    Mar62367100
    Apr45850800
    May31832423
    Jun1401872816
    Jul477510274
    Aug336911673
    Sep991794716
    Oct46346100
    Nov59669500
    Dec71687300

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

    CSV

    Analyst note

    Gas price change stands out in Washington: +38.5% since 2024, rank 1 of 45. Main heating fuel in Washington is electricity (58% of homes); electricity heats 58% and utility gas 34%. Since 2024 electricity moved +10.7% and gas +38.5%; in 2026 to date power is +11.6% and gas -0.0% on a year earlier. A COP 3.0 heat pump beats a furnace here by $5.04 per MMBtu; the break-even COP of 2.16 ranks 5th of 45. The most electric counties of Washington with 20,000+ residents are led by Douglas County at 96% of homes. A normal Washington year has 5,610 heating degree-days, and 2025 had 5,191, so heating demand ran 7% below the 1991 to 2020 normal.

    States with a similar break-even

    State near WashingtonBreak-even COP near WashingtonGas, $ per MMBtuHeat pump, $ per MMBtu
    Hawaii2.22$53.22$39.47
    Georgia2.08$20.75$14.40
    Louisiana2.08$17.67$12.23
    Texas2.29$19.73$15.04
    Arizona2.37$18.88$14.91
    Arkansas1.93$19.56$12.57

    Questions on heating in Washington

    How fast did Washington gas prices move since 2024?

    +38.5% from $12.72 to $17.62 per Mcf, rank 1 of 45 states by change.

    Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in Washington?

    Yes on fuel cost: $12.87 per MMBtu against $17.90 for gas, break-even COP 2.16.

    Which Washington county has the most electric heating?

    Douglas County: 96% of 15,708 homes among counties with 20,000+ residents, median income $80,374.

    What share of Washington homes heat with electricity?

    58% of 3,020,558 occupied homes in ACS 2023, against 34% with utility gas.

    Where does Washington rank on heat pump cost?

    9 of 45 at $12.87 per MMBtu; North Dakota is lowest at $11.55.

    Is Washington a winter or summer electricity state?

    Winter use runs +58% over spring and fall, summer +3%: heating drives the load.

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

    January to Aug: electricity +11.6%, gas -0.0% on a year earlier.

    How much generating capacity does Washington have?

    31,708 MW operable in 2025, 130 MW under construction, 1,896 MW planned (EIA-860).

    How many Washington homes have smart meters?

    69.4% of 3,385,148 home meters, 4 of 8 reporting utilities offer time-of-use.

    More on Washington

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    With electricity at 13.17 cents per kWh and natural gas at $17.62 per Mcf in 2025, one MMBtu of heat costs $17.90 from a gas furnace, $12.87 from a heat pump and $38.60…