Is Electrification Worth It in Minnesota?

Minnesota winters are the final boss for heat pumps.

-20°F is normal in January. You'll hit 8,000+ heating degree days in Minneapolis, more up north. Natural gas costs $1.15/therm. Electricity runs $0.13/kWh. This is exactly the scenario where 10 years ago I would have said "just get a gas furnace." But cold-climate heat pumps have gotten really, really good.

You need a true cold-climate model—Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat, Bosch IDS, or equivalent. Installed correctly with proper sizing and backup heat integration, these systems work down to -15°F before supplemental heat kicks in. If you're heating with propane or oil, the savings are massive ($1,500+ per year). With gas, it's marginal—but the air quality and climate benefits might tip the scale.