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 13.11 cents per kWh and natural gas at $17.62 per Mcf in 2025, one MMBtu of heat costs $17.90 from a gas furnace, $12.81 from a heat pump and $38.42 from resistance heating in Washington.

Your Washington heating cost

    Washington inputs: 13.11 ¢ per kWh, $17.62 per Mcf, fuel only; the need is an illustration. Method.

    The numbers

    Electricity 2025
    13.11 ¢/kWhrank 38 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
    $12.81 per MMBturank 8 of 45 states, COP 3.0 assumed
    Electric resistance
    $38.42 per MMBtu2.1 times a furnace
    Break-even COP
    2.15a heat pump above it beats gas; rank 5 of 45
    Annual cost at 50 MMBtu
    $640 heat pumpfuel only
    Homes heated by electricity
    58%34% utility gas, 3% propane, 1% oil
    Electricity since 2024
    +10.2%
    Gas since 2024
    +38.5%
    2026 to date
    power +13.1%, gas +3.6%January to Jul against 2025
    Winter load
    +58% over spring and fallsummer +4%: a winter-peaking state
    Heating degree-days, normal year
    5,9391991 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, $12.81 heat pump, $38.42 resistance.

    $ per MMBtu

    • Electric resistance38.4
    • Heat pump, COP 3.012.8
    • 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 $38.42 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
    202538.417.0

    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
    Jan2.162.29
    Feb2.142.35
    Mar2.07No data
    Apr2.042.21
    May1.992.11
    Jun1.692.02
    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 202614.11$17.32$13.8$17.62.35
    Jan 202613.81$17.38$13.5$17.72.29
    Dec 202513.33$15.51$13.0$15.82.48
    Nov 202513.85$16.72$13.5$17.02.39
    Oct 202514.06$18.72$13.7$19.02.17
    Sep 202513.79$23.40$13.5$23.81.70
    Aug 202513.64$25.05$13.3$25.51.57
    Jul 202513.45$25.71$13.1$26.11.51
    Jun 202512.96$22.11$12.7$22.51.69
    May 202513.65$19.80$13.3$20.11.99
    Apr 202513.02$18.43$12.7$18.72.04
    Mar 202512.62$17.55$12.3$17.82.07
    Feb 202512.47$16.82$12.2$17.12.14
    Jan 202511.78$15.71$11.5$16.02.16

    Heating season

    A normal year in Washington brings 5,939 heating degree-days and 131 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, 13% 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
    201548893075939131
    201651261745939131
    201757942545939131
    201853822375939131
    201957501855939131
    202054161835939131
    202155622785939131
    202257883055939131
    202353372755939131
    202453532515939131
    202551912955939131

    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
    Jan897932
    Feb801743
    Mar623704
    Apr458522
    May318358
    Jun140203
    Jul4797
    Aug33100
    Sep99217
    Oct463470
    Nov596712
    Dec716881

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

    CSV
    Washington, 2025 by month: 12 rows
    MonthHDD 2025HDD normalCDD 2025CDD normal
    Jan89793200
    Feb80174300
    Mar62370400
    Apr45852200
    May31835822
    Jun1402032813
    Jul479710256
    Aug3310011650
    Sep992174710
    Oct46347000
    Nov59671200
    Dec71688100

    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 +10.2% and gas +38.5%; in 2026 to date power is +13.1% and gas +3.6% on a year earlier. A COP 3.0 heat pump beats a furnace here by $5.10 per MMBtu; the break-even COP of 2.15 ranks 5 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 5,939 heating degree-days, and 2025 had 5,191, so heating demand ran 13% below the 1991 to 2020 normal.

    States with a similar break-even

    State near WashingtonBreak-even COP near WashingtonGas, $ per MMBtuHeat pump, $ per MMBtu
    Louisiana2.08$17.67$12.28
    Georgia2.08$20.75$14.39
    Hawaii2.24$53.22$39.65
    Texas2.30$19.73$15.11
    Arkansas1.92$19.56$12.54
    Arizona2.38$18.88$14.97

    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: $12.81 per MMBtu against $17.90 for gas, break-even COP 2.15.

    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?

    8 of 45 at $12.81 per MMBtu; North Dakota is lowest at $11.54.

    Is Washington a winter or summer electricity state?

    Winter use runs +58% over spring and fall, summer +4%: heating drives the load.

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

    January to Jul: electricity +13.1%, gas +3.6% 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 13.11 cents per kWh and natural gas at $17.62 per Mcf in 2025, one MMBtu of heat costs $17.90 from a gas furnace, $12.81 from a heat pump and $38.42…