A heat pump offers nearly 40% lower heating costs when compared to gas.
Hot pumps come with a higher initial cost but offer lower operational expenses, as per an analysis by Verivox, as reported by Funke Mediengruppe. Households currently using a hot pump for heating are reveling in significant savings compared to those opting for conventional gas heating systems, due to the escalating gas prices.
As per a Verivox report, consumers heating their homes with a hot pump are currently experiencing substantial savings compared to those relying on traditional gas heating systems. This advantage stems from the dramatic increase in gas prices over the year.
The report indicates that houses with an efficient hot pump would currently be paying 38% less in heating bills compared to those with a traditional gas heating system. Even if the hot pump isn't highly efficient, the costs are still 6% lower than for a natural gas heating system.
For instance, consider a new customer heating a single-family house consuming 20,000 kWh annually with natural gas. According to Verivox, they are currently shelling out an average of €1,658, which equates to 8.29 cents/kWh.
However, if the house is furnished with an efficient hot pump with a workload of 4, the analysis suggests that for the same amount of heat, 5,000 kWh of electricity would be required. At current average tariffs for new customers, this would amount to €1,034 per year. "An efficiently functioning hot pump system results in 38% lower heating costs compared to natural gas," the analysis states. Based on the calculation, a minimum annual savings of €600 can be anticipated by single-family homeowners using a hot pump over a gas heating system. Even with a less efficient pump with a workload of 2.7, the running costs would still be approximately €100 cheaper than with gas.
Electricity for heating is more affordable than household electricity
Thorsten Storck, energy expert at Verivox, clarified the price disparity to Funke newspapers due to the skyrocketing gas prices. Since the spring, the price of a kilowatt-hour has risen nearly two cents in new customer tariffs. "The reasons for this are the return to the old sales tax rate of 19%, higher wholesale prices, and the increase in gas storage from July 2024," Storck explained.
The tariffs for hot pump electricity are economical due to reduced network fees and concession fees compared to regular household electricity. The most cost-effective hot pump electricity offers currently stand at around 21 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to Storck.
However, the analysis did not factor in the purchase costs. The installation of a hot pump is generally more expensive than that of a gas heating system, but government subsidies are available for the transition. The subsidy was expanded to additional recipient groups at the end of May. The best heating system or combination of heating systems for a household largely depends on the specific situation and building conditions, according to Verivox expert Storck. A site energy consultation can provide an accurate assessment.
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Households using energy-efficient heat pumps for heating are benefiting from lower operational expenses, as they're currently paying 38% less in heating bills compared to those with traditional gas heating systems due to rising gas prices. The high initial cost of heat pumps is offset by these significant energy cost savings.
The cost-effectiveness of heat pump electricity is attributed to reduced network fees and concession fees compared to regular household electricity, with the most affordable tariffs hovering around 21 cents per kilowatt-hour. This makes heating with electricity a more affordable option over escalating gas prices.
