Gas vs Electric Heating Cost in District of Columbia
In District of Columbia, a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation costs an estimated $1,234.80 a year to heat with a 92% gas furnace, $5,213.42 with electric resistance heat and $1,861.93 with a heat pump. Gas heat costs $17.50 per MMBtu here, against $26.39 from a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.8.
State data
What District of Columbia pays
- Electricity
- 25.2¢/kWhEIA Electric Power Monthly, table 5.6.A · EIA, July 2026 (data as of 2026-09-28)
- Natural gas
- $1.61/thermEIA, residential natural gas price ($/Mcf ÷ 10.37) · EIA 2025 annual average (data as of 2026-09-28)
- Heating degree-days
- 4,200 °F-days (base 65 °F)NOAA CPC, 1991–2020 normals
- Climate zone
- 4 (IECC 2021)DOE/PNNL · heat pump seasonal COP used: 2.8
District of Columbia is in the over-20¢ band on this site: 25.2¢ a kWh, 38% above the US average of 18.3¢/kWh. District of Columbia pays $1.61/therm for natural gas, which puts furnace heat at $17.50 per MMBtu. District of Columbia is in IECC climate zone 4, with 4,200 heating degree-days a year; the heat pump line uses a seasonal COP of 2.8.
Prices are statewide averages. Type the rate and gas price from your own bill into the calculator above to replace them.
Gas vs electric heat
B04Scenario A
Sets the electricity rate. Pick US average if you're not sure.
From EIA for District of Columbia. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 25.2¢/kWh · District of Columbia · EIA, July 2026 · gas $1.61/therm (EIA 2025 annual) · 4,200 heating degree-days · climate zone 4 (data as of 2026-09-28) ·
On the furnace label: 0.80 older, 0.90–0.98 condensing.
Gas furnace costs less per year by
Electric resistance: $5,213.42 a year · Gas furnace: $1,234.80 a year, for 70.6 MMBtu of heat.
- Yearly heating load
- 70.6 MMBtu
- Electric resistance, $ per MMBtu
- $73.89
- Gas furnace, $ per MMBtu
- $17.50
- Electric resistance, per year
- $5,213.42
- Gas furnace, per year
- $1,234.80
- Difference per year (Gas furnace − Electric resistance)
- −$3,978.62
- Seasonal heat pump COP used
- 2.8
- Prices used
- electricity 25.2¢/kWh · gas $1.61/therm · propane $3.30/gal · oil $3.80/gal
- Heat pump, per year (for reference)
- $1,861.93
Cost by month, in season only
The yearly cost spread across the months using a typical heating degree-day pattern from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Months outside the season show $0.
Estimate. Formula and sources are under “How it works”. Change any input; the result updates as you type.
2026 note: The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended for installations after Dec 31, 2025. Our numbers use 2026 rules. State rebates, HEAR/HOMES programs and utility programs may still apply.
Worked example
Worked example: 2,000 sq ft in District of Columbia
A 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation in District of Columbia needs about 70.6 MMBtu of heat a year (4,200 heating degree-days). At $1.61/therm in a 92% furnace, gas delivers that heat at $17.50 per MMBtu; resistance heat at 25.2¢/kWh costs $73.89, and a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.8 (zone 4) costs $26.39. The year comes to $1,234.80 on gas, $5,213.42 on resistance heat and $1,861.93 on a heat pump. At seasonal COP 2.8, the heat pump's heat still costs more than $1.61/therm gas in District of Columbia.
Load = sq ft × 0.35 × heating degree-days × 24 ÷ 1,000,000. Gas $/MMBtu = $/therm ÷ 0.1 ÷ 0.92. Resistance $/MMBtu = $/kWh × 293.07. Heat pump = resistance ÷ COP.
Questions
FAQ
Which is cheaper in District of Columbia, gas or electric heat?
Electric resistance heat is the most expensive of the three in District of Columbia: $5,213.42 a year for the 2,000 sq ft example, $3,978.62 more than gas. Between gas ($1,234.80) and a heat pump ($1,861.93), gas comes out $627.13 a year ahead; a heat pump would match it at about 16.7¢/kWh. These are estimates at 25.2¢/kWh and $1.61/therm; your bill's prices can change the answer.
How much gas does a furnace use in District of Columbia?
About 767 therms a year for a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation and a 92% furnace, at District of Columbia's 4,200 heating degree-days. That averages 64 therms a month over 12 months, but almost all of it is burned in the heating months. At $1.61/therm, the year costs an estimated $1,234.80.
Electric furnace vs gas furnace cost in District of Columbia?
An electric furnace is resistance heat: every kWh gives 3,412 BTU. At 25.2¢/kWh, that heat costs $73.89 per MMBtu in District of Columbia, against $17.50 from a 92% gas furnace at $1.61/therm, 4.2 times as much. For the 2,000 sq ft example that's $5,213.42 a year against $1,234.80.
Bordering states
Nearby states
Same calculator, same house, each state's own prices and winter:
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