Heat pump electricity consumption increases during cold weather

As temperatures drop, heat pumps may consume more electricity even if thermostat settings remain unchanged. This increase in energy usage is often due to the device working harder to compensate for heat loss through walls, windows, and roofs.

Efficiency also decreases as the temperature difference between the outdoor air and the heating system increases. For air-to-water heat pumps, the Coefficient of Performance (COP) drops significantly in colder weather. According to data from the Lithuanian Energy Regulatory Council, a heat pump might produce 3.5–4.5 kWh of heat per 1 kWh of electricity at +5 °C, but this can drop to approximately 2–2.5 kWh at –10 °C.

Edvinas Jurevičius, head of the private customers division at Ignitis, advises consumers to check whether higher bills are due to increased electricity prices or higher consumption levels. He notes that ground-source heat pumps are less affected by sudden temperature drops because underground temperatures remain more stable.