Very cold climate

Heat pump running costs in New Hampshire

Residential electricity in New Hampshire averages 27.64¢ per kWh — 52% above the national average. Here's what that means for heat pump operating costs, and which models are cheapest to run in New Hampshire's climate.

Electricity price
27.64¢
#8 most expensive of 51
Typical 3-ton cost
$2,946
per year, median model
Most efficient
$1,925
same load, best model
Heating share
89%
of yearly energy use
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Cheapest heat pumps to run in New Hampshire

Ranked by estimated yearly cost if each model served the same 36,000 BTU/h (3-ton) load in New Hampshire, so size doesn't distort the comparison. Because New Hampshire's climate weights heating more heavily, HSPF2 (heating efficiency) matters most here. Choosing the most efficient model over the least efficient one in our database saves about $1,591 a year for the same load.

#ModelTypeSizeHSPF2SEER25°F kept3-ton cost/yr
1Fujitsu AOUH09KTAP1Mini-split1 ton1433.5142%$1,925
2Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1Mini-split1 ton13.731.5106%$1,974
3Bryant 37MARAQ09AA3Mini-split1 ton13.919.678%$2,043
4Bryant 37MAHAQ09AA3Mini-split1 ton13.820.699%$2,044
5Fujitsu AOUH15KTAP1Mini-split1 ton1328.7106%$2,087
6Bryant 37MARAQ18AA3Mini-split1.5 tons13.52071%$2,091
7Senville SENA-24HF-OGMini-split2 tons13.51983%$2,105
8Mitsubishi Electric SUZ-AA09NL***Mini-split1 ton12.917.653%$2,211
9Senville SENA-09HF-OGMini-split1 ton12.521.496%$2,223
10Bryant 37MAHAQ18AA3Mini-split1.5 tons12.41890%$2,283
11Senville SENA-18HF-OGMini-split1.5 tons12.31890%$2,299
12Senville SENA/09HF/OQMini-split1 ton1220.290%$2,319

Best cold-weather performers for New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a very cold state, so heating dominates the bill and backup resistance heat is the biggest risk to running costs. These cold-climate certified models keep the most of their heating capacity at 5°F.

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Heat pump vs. gas furnace in New Hampshire

To heat the same home (2,500 full-load heating hours at 36,000 BTU/h) in New Hampshire, a typical heat pump (HSPF2 9.5) would cost about $2,619 a year, an efficient one (HSPF2 10) about $2,488, versus $1,700 for a 95% gas furnace and $2,019 for an older 80% furnace, at New Hampshire's average residential gas price of $18.61 per thousand cubic feet. With cheap gas and comparatively expensive electricity, gas heating is cheaper to run in New Hampshire. A dual-fuel system (heat pump plus gas backup) is often the lowest-cost setup here.

Typical heat pump$2,619
Efficient heat pump$2,488
95% gas furnace$1,700
80% gas furnace$2,019

Heating only; a heat pump also provides cooling, while a furnace needs a separate air conditioner. Gas prices: EIA, residential, annual average. Compare all states.

Assumptions for New Hampshire

Residential electricity price27.64¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Aug 2026, preliminary)
Climate groupVery cold
Equivalent full-load heating hours2,500 per year
Equivalent full-load cooling hours500 per year

Use the calculator on any model page to replace these with your own electricity rate and usage.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a heat pump in New Hampshire?

Using New Hampshire's average residential electricity price of 27.64¢/kWh, a typical 3-ton, median-efficiency heat pump costs about $2,946 a year to run. The most efficient model in our database would cost about $1,925 for the same load.

Is electricity expensive in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire's residential rate of 27.64¢/kWh is 52% above the U.S. average of 18.16¢ and ranks #8 most expensive of 51 (EIA, August 2026).

Is heating or cooling the bigger cost in New Hampshire?

With our climate assumptions for New Hampshire (2,500 heating and 500 cooling hours), heating accounts for about 89% of a typical heat pump's yearly energy use.

Is a heat pump cheaper than gas heat in New Hampshire?

For a typical home, heating with an efficient heat pump costs about $2,488 a year versus $1,700 with a 95% gas furnace at New Hampshire's average prices. With cheap gas and comparatively expensive electricity, gas heating is cheaper to run in New Hampshire. A dual-fuel system (heat pump plus gas backup) is often the lowest-cost setup here.