Our take in 30 seconds
Best for: cold and very cold climatesStrengths
- Keeps 83% of its heat at 5°F, so backup heat rarely runs
- Variable-speed compressor: quieter, steadier temperatures and better humidity control
- Uses newer, lower-impact R-454B refrigerant
Good to know
- No notable drawbacks in the certified data.
Running-cost calculator
Pre-filled with EIA prices · edit any fieldUses the base certified SEER2 (16) and HSPF2 (9.7). Assumes the unit is correctly sized. How we calculate.
Heating capacity as it gets colder
A heat pump's output falls as outdoor temperature drops. This is the certified heat output of the Panasonic CU-M24BAHU at the three ENERGY STAR test temperatures (cooling capacity is 24,000 BTU/h for reference).
Retention at 17°F: 80% · at 5°F: 83%. Learn how to use these numbers in our cold-climate guide.
Estimated running cost in every state
Same unit, very different bills: from about $628 a year in Louisiana to $2,430 in Maine, driven by local electricity prices and how much heating or cooling the climate needs. Click a column to sort.
| State | Price | Heating | Cooling | Total / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $241 | $386 | $628 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $181 | $540 | $720 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $348 | $390 | $738 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $667 | $77 | $743 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $409 | $343 | $753 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $504 | $262 | $765 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $282 | $497 | $779 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $683 | $107 | $790 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $521 | $292 | $812 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $592 | $228 | $820 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $501 | $323 | $824 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $465 | $378 | $843 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $469 | $382 | $850 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $678 | $180 | $858 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $384 | $477 | $861 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $481 | $392 | $873 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $556 | $333 | $890 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $753 | $140 | $893 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $664 | $248 | $911 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $762 | $183 | $945 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $787 | $196 | $983 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $730 | $264 | $994 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $709 | $291 | $1,000 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $746 | $255 | $1,002 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $967 | $108 | $1,075 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $920 | $180 | $1,101 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $1,035 | $90 | $1,124 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $912 | $217 | $1,129 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $852 | $280 | $1,133 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $1,043 | $105 | $1,148 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $1,015 | $148 | $1,163 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $718 | $446 | $1,164 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $1,052 | $192 | $1,244 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $1,039 | $233 | $1,271 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $975 | $321 | $1,296 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $1,087 | $232 | $1,319 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $1,245 | $142 | $1,387 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $1,167 | $261 | $1,428 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $1,301 | $175 | $1,475 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $1,187 | $332 | $1,520 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $1,114 | $429 | $1,543 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $1,445 | $239 | $1,684 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $1,479 | $207 | $1,686 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $1,661 | $161 | $1,822 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $63 | $1,840 | $1,903 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $1,662 | $254 | $1,915 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $1,689 | $279 | $1,969 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $1,852 | $207 | $2,059 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $1,879 | $274 | $2,153 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $2,365 | $44 | $2,409 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $2,238 | $193 | $2,430 |
Similar-size alternatives
Other ducted split system units within ±15% of this model's cooling capacity, sorted by efficiency. Cost difference is versus the Panasonic CU-M24BAHU at U.S.-average rates.
| Model | Cooling BTU/h | SEER2 | HSPF2 | 5°F kept | Est. yearly cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier 27VNA324A*030* | 23,800 | 18–23 | 10.5 | 82% | $1,044 (−$34) | Compare |
| Rheem RP19AY24AJVC | 22,800 | 20–21 | 10 | 81% | $925 (−$153) | Compare |
| Trane 5TWR7024A1 | 24,000 | 15.2–17.1 | 11 | 79% | $907 (−$171) | Compare |
| Trane 5TWX7024A1 | 24,000 | 15.2–18 | 11 | 79% | $907 (−$171) | Compare |
| Bryant 37MUHAQ24AA3 | 24,000 | 16–18.7 | 10.5 | 86% | $991 (−$87) | Compare |
| ACiQ ACIQ-24-HPD | 24,000 | 16–18.6 | 10.5 | 83% | $1,019 (−$59) | Compare |
Full specifications
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Outdoor model | CU-M24BAHU |
| Certified by | Panasonic |
| Product type | Ducted split system |
| Compressor | Variable-speed (inverter) |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |
| Cooling capacity | 24,000 BTU/h |
| Nominal size | 2 tons |
| SEER2 (certified range) | 16 – 18.1 |
| EER2 (best) | 11 |
| HSPF2 (best) | 9.7 |
| Heating capacity @ 47°F | 26,000 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 17°F | 20,800 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 5°F | 21,600 BTU/h |
| COP @ 5°F | 1.87 |
| ENERGY STAR cold-climate | Yes |
| Certified indoor pairings | 9 |
| Latest certification | 2026-05 |
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), retrieved November 7, 2026. Capacities and HSPF2 are the highest values across certified pairings; confirm your exact system's AHRI reference number with your installer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Panasonic CU-M24BAHU cost to run per year?
At the U.S. average residential electricity price of 18.16¢/kWh and typical national heating and cooling hours, we estimate about $1,078 per year ($779 heating, $300 cooling). It ranges from about $628 in Louisiana to $2,430 in Maine.
Does the Panasonic CU-M24BAHU work in cold weather?
Yes. It is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified and delivers 21,600 BTU/h at 5°F, 83% of its 47°F capacity, with a COP of 1.87 at 5°F.
What size is the Panasonic CU-M24BAHU?
It is rated at 24,000 BTU/h of cooling, roughly 2 tons, and 26,000 BTU/h of heating at 47°F. Proper sizing should be confirmed with a Manual J load calculation.