Is Electrification Worth It in Virginia?

Virginia is right in the sweet spot for heat pumps.

Not too hot, not too cold. About 4,200 heating degree days. Electricity at $0.12/kWh. Natural gas around $1.50/therm. You need both heating and cooling, which makes heat pumps more valuable than in extreme climates where you only use one mode. Dominion Energy offers rebates, and Virginia has modest state incentives.

Heat pumps make sense for most Virginia homeowners, especially if you're in the Richmond-to-Norfolk corridor. Payback typically runs 6-9 years. Not spectacular, but solid. The bigger opportunity is if you're heating with oil or propane—those fuels are way more expensive, and switching to a heat pump can save you $1,200+ per year.