Does a Heat Pump Run on Electricity?

Yes, a heat pump runs on electricity. But unlike traditional electric heaters (which convert electricity into heat), a heat pump moves existing heat from one place to another. The energy required to move heat is far less than the energy required to create it, which is why heat pumps can deliver 2 to 5 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity they consume. That is the source of their dramatic efficiency advantage over electric resistance heating, oil, propane, and (often) natural gas.

For southern New Hampshire homes, here is what running on electricity actually means for performance, cost, and reliability.

How a heat pump uses electricity

A heat pump uses electricity primarily for three components:

Compressor: the biggest electrical load. The compressor raises the refrigerant's pressure and temperature.
Outdoor fan: moves outdoor air across the outdoor coil.
Indoor blower: moves household air across the indoor coil (in ducted systems and ductless mini split heads).

Modern variable-speed inverter compressors run at different speeds based on demand, which means electricity use scales smoothly with the heat load instead of cycling between full power and off.

What COP actually means

The efficiency of a heat pump is measured by its Coefficient of Performance (COP): the ratio of heat output to electrical input.

COP 1.0: 1 unit of heat for every 1 unit of electricity (this is electric resistance heating, the baseline)
COP 2.0: 2 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity
COP 3.0: 3 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity
COP 4.0 to 5.0: 4 to 5 units of heat per 1 unit of electricity (what some air-source units achieve in very mild conditions)

Typical COP values for NH heat pumps

For a quality cold-climate heat pump installed in a southern NH home:

At 47°F outdoor: COP 3.0 to 3.5
At 17°F outdoor: COP 2.0 to 2.5
At 5°F outdoor: COP 1.5 to 2.0
At -10°F outdoor: COP 1.2 to 1.5

Even at -10°F, the heat pump is still more efficient than electric resistance heat (COP 1.0). And for most of the NH heating season, the heat pump operates well above the 2.0 COP range.

Heat pump vs. traditional heating systems

Compared to combustion-based systems:

Modern gas, propane, or oil furnace/boiler: COP of roughly 0.78 to 0.96 (loses 4 to 22 percent of fuel energy up the flue)
Cold-climate heat pump: COP 2.0 to 3.5 across most NH winter conditions

The heat pump delivers 2 to 4 times more useful heat per unit of energy input. Even after accounting for electricity costing more per BTU than gas, the net result is typically lower or competitive operating cost in NH.

Where the electricity comes from matters

A heat pump's environmental footprint depends partly on how the electricity that powers it is generated. On the New England grid:

Coal has been almost completely retired
Natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and renewables make up the majority of generation
The grid is steadily getting cleaner as more renewables come online

The result: a heat pump running on the New England grid produces meaningfully lower carbon emissions per BTU of heat than burning oil, propane, or natural gas in a home appliance, even before factoring in the grid's ongoing decarbonization.

What does a heat pump cost to run?

At mid-2026 NH rates (electricity around $0.30 per kWh, oil around $4.30 per gallon, propane around $3.75 per gallon):

Cold-climate heat pump (average COP 2.5): roughly $24 to $35 per million BTU
Natural gas (95 percent AFUE): roughly $13 to $19 per million BTU where available
Propane (95 percent AFUE): roughly $29 to $46 per million BTU
Fuel oil (87 percent AFUE): roughly $25 to $42 per million BTU
Electric resistance: roughly $59 to $88 per million BTU

Heat pumps are competitive with natural gas in NH and beat oil, propane, and electric resistance handily. Rates change; the comparison should be re-run with current numbers before any equipment decision.

Backup heat in NH installations

For most NH heat pump installations, a backup heat source covers the deepest cold:

Dual-fuel: the existing or new gas, propane, or oil furnace serves as backup. Most common configuration in NH.
All-electric: electric resistance strips inside the air handler take over below the heat pump's effective range.
Boiler pairing: for hydronic homes, a mini split heat pump adds cooling and supplemental heat while the existing boiler continues to serve most of the home.

Try the cost comparison calculator

Want to see how the COP math plays out at your actual electric and fuel rates? Our Heat Pump Cost Comparison Calculator shows cost per million BTU side-by-side for heat pumps vs. oil, propane, and natural gas at different outdoor temperatures.

Schedule a consultation

If you are evaluating a heat pump for your NH home and want to model what it would actually cost to operate, contact A.J. LeBlanc Heating for a free quote. Serving New Hampshire families since 1928.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a heat pump use a lot of electricity?

Less than you might think. Because heat pumps move heat rather than producing it, they use one-half to one-third the electricity of an electric resistance heater for the same heat output. Total household electricity goes up when you install a heat pump, but the heating cost (which previously went to oil, propane, or gas) drops more.

What is a good COP for a heat pump?

For NH conditions, a quality cold-climate heat pump should maintain COP above 2.0 down to about 5°F outdoor, and COP above 3.0 at typical mild-winter temperatures.

Will a heat pump increase my electric bill?

Yes, but your fossil fuel bill drops more. Net heating cost typically goes down 20 to 40 percent for NH homes converting from oil or propane to a dual-fuel system.

Can I run a heat pump on a generator during a power outage?

Yes, if the generator is sized to support the heat pump's startup current and continuous load. A typical 14 to 18 kW standby generator can run a residential heat pump along with essential household loads.

Does a heat pump work without backup heat?

In well-insulated homes, yes. In older NH homes with high heat loss, a backup heat source (furnace, boiler, or electric resistance) is recommended to maintain comfort on the coldest nights.