Heat pump and AC running costs: what really decides your bill
Efficiency, flow temperature, tariffs and solar: the four things that decide what a heat pump or AC costs to run.
Efficiency (SCOP)
A SCOP of 3.5 means 3.5 units of heat for each unit of electricity. Good design and low flow temperatures matter as much as the brand.
Tariffs
Several suppliers offer heat pump or time-of-use tariffs with cheaper hours. A heat pump that warms the house and the cylinder during cheap hours can cost noticeably less to run.
Solar and batteries
Solar panels cover part of the electricity during spring, summer and autumn, and they run AC cooling almost for free on sunny days. A battery shifts cheap electricity into the evening.
Our estimates
The plan tool shows running costs with the prices it assumed, so you can see how each figure was reached. Your installer should give you a figure based on your survey.