Our rates are about the same. Electricity is around 9 to 10 cents per kWh. Gas is about 23 cents per therm. However, the gas base rate is over $32/month. I checked again yesterday and was overstating slightly but not much. I like the idea of no gas both from an environmental and a safety standpoint.Ah... so ~2x more expensive than I thought after the add-ons. Even a heat pump with a COP of ~4 would be slightly more expensive if you're buying from the grid. The biggest savings is the $11.57/mo access fee. As you say, the best way to make it pencil is heat pumps + PV . What sucks is the savings are marginal unless you can go 100% electric, just reducing gas use doesn't really save much.
I have an Infinity system with a COP of about 3.8 and hspf of 11. Interestingly they boldly advertise SEER of 24 and hspf of 13. When you look through the technical data all units (2 to 5 ton) are hspf of 11 and the highest SEER is 22.5. I have been unable to get an answer on the difference. Any ideas? I doubt it is an out and out lie since competitors would probably love to catch them.
For me this is about more than $$$. The HVAC change has mode the house much more comfortable even though I have moved the set point from 72 to 77. The difference is humidity control to 46%.
The next step is to get two ERVs installed. If anyone knows a source of the new model from Panasonic let me know. All I can find is the older -1 model.
After ERVs are installed then I need to seal unused vents and get the attic foamed. Interestingly most people are suggesting much less foam than I want to do. I want the rafters covered. After the attic is foamed then I’ll spend the next couple of years working to seal where the foundation meets the framing. I know it won’t make a lot of difference but I also want to put in an insulated garage door.
If the HOA didn’t have a fear of black rectangles I would put solar on the east and west ends and get close to net zero. Last month (old 12 SEER system) I used about 980 kWh and that is without any car charging. Solar made about 1000 kWh.
The Rheem EcoNet app is abysmal. I think it is the first 1 star rating I have ever given.