Heating Fuel Cost Comparison ($/MMBTU)
Quick answer
This reference compares the delivered cost of heat ($ per million BTU) across 10 fuels — natural gas, propane, heating oil, electric resistance, air-source heat pumps and wood pellets — plus the unique row for ASIC Bitcoin-mining heat. Delivered cost = fuel price divided by (energy content x appliance efficiency), so a cheap fuel in an inefficient appliance can cost more than an expensive one run efficiently.
On a pure $/MMBTU basis the lowest-cost row here is "ASIC Bitcoin heat (net of mining revenue)". A Bitcoin miner is a 100%-efficient electric heater that also earns mining revenue, so its NET heating cost can fall below grid electricity — and below zero when mining pays for the power. Energy contents are physical constants; prices vary by region, so confirm your local rate. Free CSV/JSON under CC BY 4.0.
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| Fuel / Heat Source | Unit | Price (CAD) | BTU / unit | Eff. / COP | Delivered $/MMBTU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASIC Bitcoin heat (net of mining revenue) Subtracts a conservative ~$0.06/kWh CAD mining-revenue credit (~28 J/TH miner, ~$38/PH/day hashprice, 1.37 USD/CAD, haircut for pool fees/downtime) from the $0.07065/kWh electricity - so net heat is far cheaper than gas. With more efficient hardware or higher hashprice the credit can exceed the electricity cost and net heat cost goes to zero or negative: heat you are paid to produce. Volatile with BTC price/difficulty. | kWh | $0.01065 | 3412 | 100% (COP 1.0) | $3.12 |
| Air-source heat pump (ASHP) COP 3.0 per the on-site calculator (generic seasonal ASHP is ~2.7, so slightly optimistic); same Quebec-rate caveat (Rate D tier 1, $0.07065/kWh). Calc: 0.07065 / (3412 * 3.0 / 1e6). | kWh | $0.07065 | 3412 | COP 3.0 | $6.90 |
| Cold-climate ASHP Conservative seasonal COP 2.2 for sub-zero operation (manufacturers rate ~2.0-2.3 cold); same Quebec-rate caveat (Rate D tier 1, $0.07065/kWh). Calc: 0.07065 / (3412 * 2.2 / 1e6). | kWh | $0.07065 | 3412 | COP 2.2 | $9.41 |
| Natural gas (condensing furnace) Representative 2026 Canadian residential gas price (varies by province/season); matches the on-site calculator gas constant ($0.05/kWh-thermal = $14.65/MMBTU). Calc: 0.49 / (35543 * 0.95 / 1e6). | m3 | $0.49 | 35543 | 95% | $14.51 |
| Natural gas (mid-efficiency furnace) Same gas price in a non-condensing furnace - shows the efficiency penalty vs a condensing unit. Calc: 0.49 / (35543 * 0.80 / 1e6). | m3 | $0.49 | 35543 | 80% | $17.23 |
| Electric resistance baseboard At the Quebec residential rate, Hydro-Quebec Rate D tier 1 = $0.07065/kWh (Art. 2.5, eff. 2026-04-01); national average rates (~$0.13-0.18/kWh) roughly double this. Calc: 0.07065 / (3412 * 1.0 / 1e6). | kWh | $0.07065 | 3412 | 100% | $20.71 |
| ASIC Bitcoin heat (gross) An ASIC converts ~100% of its electricity to heat at 3412 BTU/kWh - identical to a resistance baseboard - so its gross heat cost equals electric resistance at the same rate (shown here at Hydro-Quebec Rate D tier 1, $0.07065/kWh). A home space-heating ASIC stays well under the 50 kW threshold that would trigger the mandatory Rate CB blockchain tariff. Calc: 0.07065 / (3412 * 1.0 / 1e6). | kWh | $0.07065 | 3412 | 100% (COP 1.0) | $20.71 |
| Wood pellets (pellet stove) Representative 2026 Canadian pellet price (~$350/ton; varies by region, bulk vs bag). Calc: 350 / (16000000 * 0.80 / 1e6). | ton (2,000 lb) | $350 | 16000000 | 80% | $27.34 |
| Heating oil (#2) Representative 2026 Canadian #2 furnace oil (varies by region/season). Calc: 1.50 / (36588 * 0.85 / 1e6). | L | $1.50 | 36588 | 85% | $48.23 |
| Propane Representative 2026 Canadian residential propane (varies widely by region/delivery). Calc: 1.05 / (24170 * 0.90 / 1e6). | L | $1.05 | 24170 | 90% | $48.27 |
Source: physical energy constants + the D-Central heat-reuse calculator; representative 2026 Canadian fuel prices. Pairs with the BTU calculator and the PSU reference. For the same fuels priced by province, see the provincial heating fuel cost index. Prices vary by region and season.
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Last reviewed June 20, 2026.