How Much Does Backup Electric Heat Cost for a Heat Pump?
Published: July 23, 2026 — BC Wide Home Services Ltd, doing business as BC Wide Heating & Air Conditioning — Greater Vancouver, BC
Auxiliary Heat Cost
Electric resistance backup heat costs 2-3 times more per unit of heat than the heat pump compressor. A 10 kW electric heat strip costs approximately $1.20-1.50 per hour to run at BC Hydro rates. Running backup heat for 5 hours on a cold day adds $6-8 to your electricity bill.
Minimizing Backup Heat Usage
Set the thermostat auxiliary heat lockout to -5°C to -10°C for cold-climate heat pumps — this prevents backup heat use in mild weather. Avoid large thermostat setbacks (more than 2-3 degrees) — recovery from deep setbacks triggers backup heat. Use a consistent temperature for best efficiency.
Alternative Backup Options
Dual-fuel (gas furnace backup) costs less to operate than electric backup during cold weather. If you have an existing gas furnace, keeping it as backup is more cost-effective than installing electric heat strips. Gas backup costs approximately $0.80-1.20 per hour vs $1.20-1.50 for electric.