Beat the Rate Hikes
Washington energy costs are climbing year after year. Here's the honest math on what's rising, what a modern system saves, and what you can do about it this week.
Washington energy costs
are rising — on the record.
These aren't scare numbers — they're the approved rate increases published by the utilities and the state's own regulator. Efficiency is the one lever you control.
Seattle City Light
Average rates rose 5.4% on Jan 1, 2025 and another 5.4% on Jan 1, 2026 — and City Light anticipates annual increases of 7–10% from 2027 onward for grid and clean-energy investments.
Source: Seattle City Light (powerlines.seattle.gov, 2025–2026 rate pages); Seattle CB 120856
Puget Sound Energy — electric
Electric rates rose about 12% in Jan 2025 and again roughly 12% net in Jan 2026 (about $17/month for a typical 800 kWh home) after the UTC approved PSE's power-cost updates.
Source: WA Utilities & Transportation Commission orders (utc.wa.gov, Jan 15 & Dec 23, 2025)
Puget Sound Energy — natural gas
Gas rates rose about 9.4% in Jan 2025 with further increases in 2026 (roughly 7% net, ~$6.50/month for a typical 64-therm home), driven partly by Climate Commitment Act compliance costs.
Source: WA UTC orders (utc.wa.gov, 2025); Seattle Times climate lab
Rate figures are the utilities' and the WA Utilities & Transportation Commission's own published averages for typical residential customers, current as of July 2026. Your bill depends on your usage and rate schedule.
What could a heat pump
save in your house?
Two questions, sourced math, assumptions in plain sight. No inflated promises — just the published DOE, ENERGY STAR, and City of Seattle figures applied to your own heating spend.
Step 1 · How do you heat today?
Step 2 · Monthly winter heating spend
Your rough heating cost in a cold month — not your whole utility bill.
Pick your heating type
Two quick answers and we'll show you the sourced savings range a modern heat pump could put back in your pocket.
How this estimate works
- Annual heating spend is estimated as your monthly winter heating spend × 5 — Seattle's roughly October–April heating season compressed to ~5 full-cost months so shoulder months don't inflate the number.
- Savings ranges apply the sourced factors above to that heating spend only — not to your whole utility bill.
- Assumes a properly sized, professionally installed modern heat pump (ENERGY STAR / utility qualified-equipment list).
This is an educational estimate built from published DOE, ENERGY STAR, City of Seattle, and WA UTC figures — not a quote, a promise, or a guarantee from Glendale Heating & Air Conditioning. Actual savings depend on your home's insulation, ductwork, rates, weather, and the equipment installed. A free in-home estimate (with a real Manual J load calculation) gives you your actual number.
Seattle is heat-pump country
Seattle is close to ideal heat-pump country: winters are long but mild, so a heat pump spends nearly all its hours in its most efficient range — and modern cold-climate units (like Mitsubishi's H2i line we install) hold 100% of their heating capacity at 5°F and keep operating to -13°F, far below anything Puget Sound weather delivers.
Seattle homes are all different.
So are the right systems.
A 1926 Craftsman with plaster walls and a 2005 townhome need completely different answers. Pick your home and we'll show you what genuinely fits — and what it typically costs around here.
Pick the home that sounds like yours
Four moves that pay
before you replace anything.
Seal your ducts
Up to ~20% system efficiency gain
In a typical forced-air home, 20–30% of conditioned air is lost to duct leaks and bad connections — you pay to heat your crawl space. Sealing and insulating accessible ducts is one of the highest-return fixes in older Seattle homes.
Source: ENERGY STAR duct-sealing guidance
Ask about duct sealingInstall a smart thermostat
≈8% of heating + cooling bills (national avg.)
ENERGY STAR–certified smart thermostats are independently field-verified to trim heating and cooling bills by learning your schedule — and PSE offers a rebate ($75, or $175 income-qualified) on qualifying models.
Source: ENERGY STAR smart thermostat certification data
See thermostat rebatesKeep up on maintenance
Prevents the 20–30% efficiency loss of neglected systems
Dirt and neglect are the #1 causes of system inefficiency and premature failure per ENERGY STAR — dirty filters and coils force equipment to run longer for the same comfort. A Glendale Maintenance Plan as low as $23/month handles it on a schedule.
Source: ENERGY STAR HVAC maintenance guidance
Compare maintenance plansChange filters regularly
5–15% lower AC energy use from a clean filter (DOE, national)
The cheapest energy upgrade there is: a clogged filter starves airflow, making the blower work harder and rooms heat unevenly. Check monthly in heavy season; replace every 1–3 months.
Source: U.S. DOE Energy Saver — maintaining your air conditioner
Filter questions, answeredEnergy questions we hear daily.
Why are my Seattle-area energy bills going up?
Both regional utilities have raised rates on the record: Seattle City Light rates rose 5.4% in 2025 and another 5.4% in 2026 (with 7–10% annual increases anticipated from 2027), and the WA Utilities & Transportation Commission approved PSE electric increases of roughly 12% in both 2025 and 2026, plus natural gas increases driven partly by Climate Commitment Act compliance costs.
Do heat pumps really work well in Seattle's climate?
Yes — Seattle's mild winters keep heat pumps in their most efficient operating range nearly all season. The U.S. Department of Energy reports modern air-source heat pumps deliver 2–4 times more heat energy than the electricity they consume, and cold-climate models like Mitsubishi's H2i hold 100% heating capacity at 5°F — far colder than typical Puget Sound weather.
How much could I save by switching to a heat pump?
It depends on what you heat with today. DOE figures show roughly 50% less electricity used versus electric baseboard heat, and the City of Seattle says oil-to-heat-pump conversions can save more than 50% of annual heating costs. From gas, savings vary from near break-even to moderate — the bigger wins are added air conditioning and the largest PSE rebates. Our free estimate gives you your actual number.
What can I do right now without replacing my system?
Sourced quick wins: sealing leaky ducts (typical homes lose 20–30% of conditioned air, per ENERGY STAR), an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat (about 8% of heating and cooling bills on average, with PSE rebates available), regular filter changes (5–15% lower AC energy use, per DOE), and professional maintenance to prevent efficiency loss from dirt and neglect.
Want the real numbers for your home?
Free in-home estimates with a real load calculation, every rebate you qualify for flagged before you sign, and a free second opinion on any replacement quote.
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