EIA data · ME
Maine: what each way of heating costs
The short answer
In Maine, electricity averaged 29.60¢/kWh (11.6¢ above the US average). That puts mini-split heat at about $30 per million BTU at rated efficiency, versus $20 for natural gas. A heat pump loses on fuel cost at rated efficiency, and loses at 5°F.
Fuel prices are EIA SEDS 2024 residential averages per million BTU of fuel, divided by 90% furnace/boiler efficiency. Electricity is the EIA trailing-twelve-month residential average. Heat pump efficiency: ENERGY STAR median cold-climate system, HSPF2 10 (COP 2.93) rated, COP 2 at 5°F.
Cities in Maine
| City | 99% design temp | Heat pump $/yr | Gas $/yr | Oil $/yr | Propane $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 7°F | $2,224 | $1,325 | $1,730 | $2,498 |
| Bangor | 1°F | $2,301 | $1,330 | $1,737 | $2,508 |
| Caribou | -6°F | $2,547 | $1,422 | $1,857 | $2,681 |
Keep going
- Cost-to-heat calculator: put in a ZIP for your own number instead of a state average.
- All city estimates, sizing by design temperature and incentives.
- States with a similar electricity price: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire.
Questions people ask
What is the electricity price in Maine?
EIA reports a residential average of 29.60¢/kWh for Maine over September 2025 to August 2026; the latest month, August 2026, was 32.11¢/kWh. The US average over the same twelve months was 18.04¢/kWh.
Is a heat pump cheaper than natural gas in Maine?
Per million BTU of delivered heat, a heat pump at its rated HSPF2 costs about $30 versus $20 for natural gas at 90% efficiency. At 5°F, when efficiency is lowest, the heat pump costs about $43 per million BTU.