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Family of four in a house vs All-electric family house: Electricity Use Compared in the US (2026)
Switching the same family from gas heating and hot water to electric can double or triple the electricity bill, even though the appliances have not changed. Heating is the largest energy use in any home, and moving it onto the electricity meter dwarfs everything else. Whether the total energy cost goes up depends on gas prices and on whether the electric heating is a heat pump or resistance.
In the US, family of four in a house uses about 13,072 kWh a year ($196.08 a month) and all-electric family house about 13,073 kWh ($196.09 a month). That is 1.0× as much, or $0.015 more per month. Per person: 3,268 kWh vs 3,268 kWh a year.
Sources: EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE2.1, average kWh per household using electricity: 4-person household. EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE2.1, average kWh per household using electricity: Home with electric main heating. Priced at $0.18 per kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, 2026-06).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Family of four in a house | All-electric family house | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 5,216 kWh | 5,216 kWh | +0 |
| Water heating | 1,569 kWh | 1,569 kWh | +0 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 1,268 kWh | 1,268 kWh | +0 |
| Cooking | 366 kWh | 366 kWh | +0 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 732 kWh | 732 kWh | +0 |
| TV, computing & network | 758 kWh | 758 kWh | +0 |
| Lighting | 810 kWh | 811 kWh | +1 |
| Other appliances | 2,353 kWh | 2,353 kWh | +0 |
- In the all-electric home, heating and hot water are typically half to two-thirds of the electricity bill.
- A heat pump cuts that heating share by half or more compared with resistance heating.
- The appliance part of the bill is the same in both houses; only the heating line changes.
Only in the all-electric family house
- None
Only in the family of four in a house
- None
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Family of four in a house | All-electric family house | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 13,072 | 13,073 | 1.0× | $0.015 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 6,100 | 1.6× | £49.83 |
| Germany | 3,800 | 4,700 | 1.2× | €27.75 |
| France | 6,034 | 13,290 | 2.2× | €120.93 |
| Australia | 7,311 | 7,311 | 1.0× | A$0.000 |
| Canada (average) | 12,694 | 17,750 | 1.4× | C$58.99 |