Worked example: UK-style ratio
Electricity 0.25 and gas 0.06 gives ratio 4.17. At SCOP 3.2 and gas boiler efficiency 0.90, breakeven threshold is 2.88, so tariff strategy and system performance are crucial to keep delivered heat costs competitive.
SEO Asset
Electricity-to-Gas Price Ratio Tracker
The electricity-to-gas ratio is one of the fastest checks for heat pump running-cost competitiveness. Higher ratios require better seasonal performance (SCOP) to stay cost-competitive.
Why the ratio matters
Heat pumps convert electricity into useful heat at an efficiency multiplier (SCOP). A quick rule of thumb is: if electricity-to-gas price ratio is lower than your seasonal performance times boiler efficiency, the heat pump is more likely to be competitive on fuel cost.
- Breakeven ratio approximation = SCOP × gas boiler efficiency.
- Example: SCOP 3.2 and 90% boiler efficiency gives ~2.88 breakeven ratio.
- If market ratio is 3.5, you usually need stronger SCOP or tariff optimization to maintain savings.
Country ratio comparison
| Country | Electricity estimate | Gas estimate | Elec:Gas ratio | Last checked | Source links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | GBP 0.25/kWh | GBP 0.06/kWh | 4.17 | 2026-04-28 | Ofgem energy price cap and market data |
| Ireland | EUR 0.33/kWh | EUR 0.12/kWh | 2.75 | 2026-04-28 | SEAI domestic fuel cost comparison + CRU consumer information |
Worked example: Ireland-style ratio
Electricity 0.33 and gas 0.12 gives ratio 2.75. With SCOP 3.3 and 0.90 boiler efficiency, breakeven threshold is 2.97, meaning a well-designed heat pump can often remain competitive on variable energy cost.
Source links and last-checked note
- Last checked dates are inherited from country assumption records maintained on this site.
- Use regulator sources for current retail tariffs and Eurostat for cross-country context.
- Do not treat headline ratios as guaranteed savings outcomes without system design and heat-loss evidence.