Why Your Electric Bill Went Up After Switching to a Heat Pump?
Switching from oil, propane or electric baseboard heat to a heat pump is one of the best upgrades you can make for your home. You get steady heat, better comfort and a modern system that works well even during cold winters.
But many homeowners are surprised when they open their next power bill and see a higher number than they expected.
This does not mean the heat pump is performing poorly. In most cases, it is working exactly the way it should.
Here are the real reasons behind the increase and what you can do to make sure the system saves you the most money over time.
1. All of your heating cost is now on one bill
Before installing a heat pump, your heating cost was split across different places. You were paying for oil or propane on one bill and electricity on another. After the upgrade, your heating is powered entirely by electricity, so everything shows up in one place.
This makes the power bill look higher even if your yearly total is actually much lower.
Example
Before:
Oil $4,000 per year
Electricity $1,200 per year
Total $5,200
After:
Electricity $2,000 per year
Total $2,000
It is very common to feel like you are spending more simply because the cost is no longer hidden across multiple bills.
2. Your home is warmer than before
Heat pumps make a house more evenly comfortable. Because of this, people naturally start heating more of their home. Rooms that were previously cold are now warm. Many homeowners also keep their temperature a little higher than before because the system feels nice and steady.
Better comfort often means more heating hours. More heating hours means more electricity used.
Even so, the total cost is still lower compared to oil or baseboard heat.
3. The backup heat may be turning on
During very cold weather, especially below minus ten degrees, the heat pump may occasionally use auxiliary heat. This is normal and the system is designed to do it. The backup heat uses more electricity than the heat pump itself, so your usage may climb during cold snaps.
Common triggers include large temperature changes on the thermostat, opening doors often or poor insulation.
A simple way to reduce this is to increase the temperature gradually rather than going from eighteen to twenty three degrees all at once.
4. The system settings may not be optimized
Many homeowners choose settings that can increase their electricity use without realizing it. Using auto mode, setting the fan to high all day, or turning the system on and off frequently will all cause the heat pump to work harder.
The most efficient way to use a heat pump is to leave it running steadily in heat mode at a comfortable temperature such as twenty or twenty two degrees. You do not need to constantly adjust it.
If you are unsure about your settings, our team can check them for you at no cost.
5. Winter always increases electricity use
Your winter electricity bill includes more than just your heat pump. Hot water, lighting, cooking and laundry all increase in winter. This is true even with the most efficient heating system.
It is normal for the winter bill to be higher than your summer bill. What matters is the overall yearly total.
6. The heat pump may not be sized or placed correctly
Not every installation company follows proper sizing rules.
If the unit is too small, too large or placed in a location with poor airflow, the system will use more electricity than necessary.
Proper sizing requires heat loss calculations and experience with local homes. Our technicians follow the standards recommended by manufacturers and by Efficiency Nova Scotia.
If you suspect your system might not be installed correctly, we can take a look for you.
7. You are comparing one month instead of the whole year
It is very common to look at a single winter bill and assume the heat pump is not saving money. A better comparison is to look at the entire year before and after the upgrade.
Nova Scotia has a long heating season that lasts more than half the year.
A proper comparison always uses annual totals, not a single cold month.
Are heat pumps still worth it? Yes, absolutely.
Even if your electricity bill rises, a heat pump still provides:
• Lower yearly heating cost
• Better comfort and steady heat
• Increased home value
• Strong performance even in cold weather
• Access to rebates for oil to heat pump upgrades
Your electricity bill may go up, but your total cost goes down.
Need help understanding your bill?
If you recently installed a heat pump and want help understanding your electricity usage, we can review your system settings, insulation, auxiliary heat usage and overall annual cost.
Contact GreenPump Energy and we will help you find out where the electricity is going and how to save more.
💬 Book your free consultation today and find out how much you could save with a new heat pump and available rebates.
📞 Call us at 902-900-0484 — our team is ready to help.
📍 Visit us at GreenPump Energy, 3600 Kempt Rd., Halifax, NS B3K 4X8
GreenPump Energy — Proudly serving communities across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland with reliable, energy-efficient heat pump installations.