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East of England

Heat pump running cost in Peterborough

What does an air-source heat pump actually cost to run in Peterborough, what does it save vs keeping a gas boiler, and when does it break even? This page uses the same assumptions as our full heat pump calculator — a typical UK 3-bed semi with average insulation, SCOP 3.3, current Ofgem-cap tariff — scaled by the regional heat demand in East of England.

Heat pump — annual
£1341
Running cost on current Ofgem cap
Gas boiler — annual
£1085
-256 £/yr saving if saving > 0
15-year net benefit
£-1903
19.7-year payback
Heat demand (kWh/yr)
13650
Regional multiplier ×1.05
Net install after BUS grant
£3500
11 kW ASHP + £7,500 BUS
Annual CO₂ saved
1642 kg
vs equivalent gas combi

What makes Peterborough different

Peterborough's Fens location means clear, cold winter nights — unusually good conditions for a heat pump's seasonal performance.

The figures above use a 3-bed semi-detached home with average insulation (SCOP 3.3), 13650 kWh of heat demand per year, and the current Ofgem default-tariff price cap (27.03p/kWh electricity, 6.04p/kWh gas). If your home is bigger, smaller, better or worse insulated, switch to the full heat pump calculator and pick your own archetype — the numbers can swing £200–£600/yr either way.

Don't forget the £7,500 BUS grant

The UK government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers up to £7,500 of a heat pump install for owner-occupiers and small landlords in England and Wales. Scotland has its own (more generous) Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan. Either way, the grant is deducted from the installer's quote — you never handle the money. Check your eligibility in our BUS grant calculator .

Other cities in East of England

Regional heat demand varies more than most people expect — coastal cities often beat inland ones by 5–10%.

City Multiplier HP £/yr Gas £/yr Payback 15-yr net
Cambridge 1.02 £1309 £1057 19.6 yrs £-1861
Norwich 1.04 £1330 £1075 19.7 yrs £-1889
Ipswich 1.03 £1319 £1066 19.6 yrs £-1875
Peterborough (this page) 1.05 £1341 £1085 19.7 yrs £-1903
Luton 1.03 £1319 £1066 19.6 yrs £-1875

Compare other cities

Pick any UK city to see its heat pump running cost side-by-side with Peterborough.

Before you commit in Peterborough

Three local factors decide your real running cost: your home's insulation level (a D-rated home runs 20% higher than C-rated), your radiator sizing (undersized rads drop SCOP fast), and installer pricing (the range within a single city can be £3k–£5k on the same job). Get at least three MCS-certified quotes before committing.

Insulate first, size second. Drop heat demand by 20–30% with a good cavity wall / loft insulation package and you'll buy a smaller heat pump for less up front — our heat loss calculator shows the size difference insulation makes. If you're also modelling solar, check the solar panel savings calculator — a heat pump running on cheap solar is one of the best UK home-energy combinations.