PowerCostAtlas

Heating & cooling · May 2026 rates

HVAC electricity cost calculators

Model heating and cooling operating cost with transparent capacity, efficiency, cycling, runtime, and electricity-price inputs. State averages come from the U.S. EIA and every calculator lets you enter your own utility rate.

Input powerElectric resistance heat$132.77 default 30-day example · 3000 W modeled averageCEERRoom air conditioner$19.57 default 30-day example · 442 W modeled averageEER2Central air conditioner$73.02 default 30-day example · 1650 W modeled averageEER2Heat pump cooling$79.66 default 30-day example · 1800 W modeled averageCOPHeat pump heating$93.39 default 30-day example · 2110 W modeled average

Heating comparison

Same delivered heat, different technology

Compare a heat pump with electric resistance heating using the same heat output, operating schedule and electricity price.

Compare heating cost

Why HVAC needs a different model

Heating and cooling equipment cannot always be represented by a single nameplate wattage. Cooling systems are often described by capacity and an efficiency ratio such as CEER or EER2, while heat-pump heating can be represented with coefficient of performance (COP). PowerCostAtlas converts those ratings into a transparent electricity-use estimate, then applies an adjustable cycling factor.

These calculators estimate operating energy only. They do not size equipment, predict a home's heating or cooling load, or account for every weather and control effect.