Cost to Heat a Home in West Virginia: Gas vs Propane vs Heat Pump
In West Virginia the cheapest heat last winter was natural gas at $14.42 per MMBtu delivered; electric resistance cost $44.93 — EIA prices, October 2025 to March 2026.
· Source: EIA STEO September 2026, Natural Gas Monthly, SHOPP · EPM Table 5.6.A (July 2026 data) · next: EIA Winter Fuels Outlook Oct 6, weekly SHOPP prices from October
On this page: CalculatorTableHow we calculatedSources
Jump to calculator ↓Prefilled with West Virginia's last-winter EIA averages; the second preset applies EIA's national outlook. Per-unit rates only; leave out the fixed monthly charge.
Advanced — efficiencies, gas unit, COP, seasonal load
Sliders scale the prefilled prices to test sensitivity; the numeric fields stay the precise inputs. Presets:
- Cheapest last winter
- Natural gas · $14.42/MMBtu
- Most expensive
- Electric resistance · $44.93/MMBtu
- Natural gas
- $1.37/therm, winter avg
- Propane
- $2.56/gal (national)
- Heating oil
- $3.94/gal (national)
- Electricity
- 15.33¢/kWh, winter avg
- Heat pump COP basis
- NEEP median, 3.20/2.17/1.90
- Heating degree-days, NOAA state
- 4,463 (Oct 2025–Mar 2026)
- EIA STEO South Atlantic division HDD
- 2,326 last · 2,134 forecast
- Federal credit
- §25C ended 31 Dec 2025
Why this number
West Virginia paid 15.33¢/kWh for electricity last winter — 15 of 35 on this list of 35 cold-weather states — and $1.37 per therm for gas (17 of 35); propane ran $2.56/gal (17 of 35) and heating oil $3.94/gal (19 of 35). Put on one basis, dollars per million Btu delivered, natural gas was the cheapest heat at $14.42 and electric resistance the dearest at $44.93 — a 31-dollar gap per MMBtu, or about $1,830 over a 60-MMBtu season.
Price basis: West Virginia’s fuel prices are last winter’s measured EIA and SHOPP averages; the this-winter column scales each by EIA’s national STEO change for that fuel — a labelled estimate, not a state forecast.
West Virginia heating cost per MMBtu, fuel by fuel
| Heating option | $/MMBtu delivered, last winter | Season cost at 60 MMBtu | This winter, EIA outlook applied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas furnace (95% AFUE) | $14.42 | $865 | $13.02 (-10%) |
| Propane furnace (92% AFUE) | $30.43 | $1,826 | $29.00 (-5%) |
| Heating oil boiler (85% AFUE) | $33.47 | $2,008 | $45.02 (+35%) |
| Heat pump at 47°F (COP 3.20) | $14.04 | $842 | $14.40 (+3%) |
| Heat pump at 17°F (COP 2.17, NEEP median 3-ton ducted) | $20.70 | $1,242 | $21.24 (+3%) |
| Heat pump at 5°F (COP 1.90) | $23.65 | $1,419 | $24.26 (+3%) |
| Electric resistance (COP 1.00) | $44.93 | $2,696 | $46.09 (+3%) |
The season column is an illustrative 60 MMBtu of delivered heat; in West Virginia that puts natural gas at $865 and electric resistance at $2,696 for the winter. The this-winter column applies EIA’s national STEO change per fuel to West Virginia’s own price (electricity +3%) — direction, not a state forecast.
The prices behind the table
| Price | Last winter average (Oct 2025–Mar 2026) | Latest published reading | Source and basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 15.33¢/kWh | 15.78¢/kWh (July 2026) | EIA Electric Power Monthly 5.6.A; winter average from the monthly editions |
| Natural gas | $1.37/therm ($14.20/Mcf, 6 of 6 months reported) | June 2026 not published by EIA | EIA Natural Gas Monthly, residential price by state; 1 Mcf = 10.38 therms |
| Heating oil | $3.94/gal | $5.30/gal (STEO forecast, national) | EIA STEO national average Oct 2025–Mar 2026 — no SHOPP state or regional heating oil series |
| Propane | $2.56/gal | $2.44/gal (STEO forecast, national) | EIA STEO national average Oct 2025–Mar 2026 — no SHOPP state or regional propane series |
What West Virginia’s utilities charge
| Utility (largest by customers) | Residential customers | ¢/kWh (EIA-861 2024) | Resistance $/MMBtu | Heat pump at 17°F $/MMBtu |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Power Co | 348,946 | 16.8¢ | $49.24 | $22.69 |
| Monongahela Power Co | 334,588 | 14.0¢ | $41.03 | $18.91 |
| The Potomac Edison Company | 135,266 | 12.6¢ | $36.93 | $17.02 |
The statewide 15.33¢ hides a 4.2¢ spread between West Virginia’s largest utilities, worth $12.31 per MMBtu on resistance heat and $5.67 on a heat pump. The ZIP lookup finds yours.
How West Virginia homes are heated
| Main heating fuel | West Virginia homes | US homes |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas (utility) | 40.7% | 46.8% |
| Electricity | 45.5% | 40.8% |
| Propane (bottled, tank or LP gas) | 5.4% | 4.9% |
| Heating oil or kerosene | 2.3% | 4.1% |
| Wood | 4.8% | 1.4% |
Electricity heats 45.5% of West Virginia’s 721,448 occupied homes against 40.8% nationally, with electricity at 45.5%, propane at 5.4% and heating oil at 2.3%. The table above says otherwise for last winter: the households on electricity paid about $44.93 per MMBtu while natural gas delivered the same heat for $14.42, a $30.51 gap on every million Btu.
What the numbers say about West Virginia
At last winter’s average prices, the cheapest way to heat a home in West Virginia was natural gas at about $14 per million Btu delivered, and the most expensive was electric resistance at $45 — a 3.1× spread between the two columns. Gas beat a cold-climate heat pump at 17°F (COP 2.17) by $6.28/MMBtu, and at 47°F (COP 3.2, $14.04) the heat pump pulls ahead. At West Virginia’s winter rates the economic balance point lands about 45°F (COP 3.12 needed). No EIA state or regional heating-oil series exists for West Virginia; the oil row is the national STEO average ($3.94/gal last winter, $5.30 forecast) and is labelled as such. Propane, likewise, is the national STEO figure of $2.56/gal because SHOPP does not cover West Virginia.
Heating degree-days: West Virginia’s own figure and the EIA division forecast
West Virginia itself logged 4,463 population-weighted heating degree-days from October 2025 to March 2026 (NOAA Climate Prediction Center state series, base 65°F), against 3,500 for the contiguous US. The month-by-month table below is a different, coarser series — EIA STEO South Atlantic census division degree-days, the only one with a forecast for the coming winter; it groups West Virginia with its neighbours and is not a West Virginia figure:
| Last winter (actual) | HDD | This winter (STEO forecast) | HDD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 131 | Oct 2026 | 118 |
| Nov 2025 | 305 | Nov 2026 | 295 |
| Dec 2025 | 532 | Dec 2026 | 461 |
| Jan 2026 | 635 | Jan 2027 | 531 |
| Feb 2026 | 504 | Feb 2027 | 415 |
| Mar 2026 | 220 | Mar 2027 | 315 |
| Oct–Mar total | 2,326 | Oct–Mar total | 2,134 |
January in the EIA South Atlantic census division (the coarse series that groups West Virginia with its neighbours) averaged about 45°F last winter (65°F minus degree-days per day) and is forecast at 48°F for January 2027, a season move of -192 degree-days. Degree-days set how much heat West Virginia needs, the table above sets the price per unit, and the bill jump calculator multiplies the two.
Where the heat pump crosses over in West Virginia
At last winter’s averages of 15.33¢/kWh and $1.37/therm, a heat pump beats a 95% gas furnace whenever its COP exceeds 3.12. West Virginia’s economic balance point on the NEEP median curve is about 45°F (COP 3.12 needed); the crossover tool runs seven named units at West Virginia’s prices and the dual-fuel calculator turns the answer into a changeover setting.
From October 6 the EIA Winter Fuels Outlook adds household expenditure by region and the weekly SHOPP survey restarts, giving West Virginia fresh regional propane readings on the weekly tracker .
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to heat a home in West Virginia?
On last winter’s EIA average prices, natural gas at about $14.42 per million Btu delivered, against a cold-climate heat pump at $20.70 and propane at $30.43. West Virginia’s ranking uses a 95% gas furnace, 92% propane furnace, 85% oil boiler and a heat pump at COP 2.17; it is per unit of heat, so West Virginia’s fixed monthly charges and equipment prices sit outside it.
Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in West Virginia?
At West Virginia’s last-winter averages of 15.33¢/kWh and $1.37/therm, a heat pump needs a COP above 3.12 to beat a 95% furnace. Against West Virginia’s required COP 3.12, the NEEP medians (3.20/2.17/1.90 at 47/17/5°F) mean the heat pump wins on mild days and loses in a cold snap in West Virginia; the balance point is about 45°F (COP 3.12 needed).
How much will heating oil and propane cost in West Virginia this winter?
Nobody publishes a West Virginia forecast; applying EIA’s September STEO national changes (+35% oil, -5% propane) to West Virginia’s last-winter $3.94 and $2.56 per gallon gives roughly $5.30 and $2.44 — the ’this winter’ column. West Virginia’s weekly SHOPP readings resume in October; the Winter Fuels Outlook (October 6) adds household expenditure on top.
Where do the West Virginia prices on this page come from?
15.33¢/kWh is the EIA Electric Power Monthly average for West Virginia over the October 2025–March 2026 editions (15.78¢ in July 2026); the share of homes on each heating fuel is Census ACS 2019–2023 5-year table B25040; $14.20/Mcf is the Natural Gas Monthly winter average (6 months), converted at 10.38 therms per Mcf; oil $3.94 and propane $2.56 per gallon are SHOPP season averages, regional or national where marked; degree-days are the STEO South Atlantic series. Only the ’this winter’ column is an estimate.
How we calculated this
Worked for West Virginia at last winter’s averages: gas 10 × $1.37 ÷ 0.95 = $14.42/MMBtu; propane 10 × ($2.56 ÷ 0.91452) ÷ 0.92 = $30.43; oil 10 × ($3.94 ÷ 1.385) ÷ 0.85 = $33.47; resistance 293.07 × 0.1533 = $44.93; heat pump $44.93 ÷ 2.17 = $20.70. The this-winter column multiplies each by EIA’s national STEO change for that fuel (electricity ×1.026, gas ×0.903, propane ×0.953, oil ×1.345).Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) electricity rates · DSIRE incentive records · public IRS/OBBBA guidance. Figures are modeled estimates, not quotes or tax advice. See our methodology.
Where to go next
- Winter heating cost hub: gas vs propane vs oil vs electric — The national table, the arithmetic behind every row here, and all {len(COLD)} state pages.
- Gas vs heat pump heating cost — The COP a heat pump needs to beat gas at $1.37/therm.
- Electric vs gas heat cost — Resistance heat versus gas across every state with a published gas price.
- Heating oil and propane prices by state (weekly tracker) — Every SHOPP weekly reading behind West Virginia’s oil and propane figures, with season lows, highs and trend lines.
- Heat pump crossover temperature — Seven named NEEP units at 15.33¢ and $1.37/therm — West Virginia needs COP 3.12 to beat gas.
- Dual-fuel switchover calculator — Turns West Virginia’s balance point (about 45°F (COP 3.12 needed)) into a thermostat changeover setting.
- Heat pump sizing estimator — West Virginia sits in IECC zone 4A; a January mean near 45°F is the design context for capacity.
- Why is my electric bill so high? — Splits a West Virginia bill jump into weather (2,326 degree-days last winter), rate and usage.
- Solar panel cost in West Virginia — The same 15.78¢/kWh July rate driving payback, utilities and rate history for West Virginia.
- Cost to heat a home in Delaware — Cold-state neighbour on this list: cheapest heat there was natural gas at $19.05/MMBtu.
- Cost to heat a home in New Jersey — Cold-state neighbour on this list: cheapest heat there was natural gas at $14.95/MMBtu.