Regional cost guide
Louisiana mini-split cost guide
Much of Louisiana is climate zone 2A / 3A (north). Electricity here runs 13.49 cents per kilowatt-hour, so a typical 12,000 BTU system costs about $402 a year to run. 4 rebate programs below can cut the installed price. Installed prices are mostly national — labor is the part that varies locally.
- Residential rate
- 13.49 c/kWh
- Rate source
- EIA, June 2026
Climate Profile
State-level range
Much of Louisiana is climate zone 2A / 3A (north).
These are statewide figures. Climate and electricity rates vary a lot inside a state, so check your own ZIP code before sizing a system around them.
Operating-Cost Example
Operating-cost example
$402per year
Example: 12k BTU/h system at 20 SEER2 / 10 HSPF2 using default annual operating hours.
Cooling
$22 monthly / 1,955.4 kWh yearly
Heating
$12 monthly / 1,024.8 kWh yearly
- Capacity
- 12,000 BTU/h
- Efficiency
- SEER2 20 / HSPF2 10
- Rate
- 13.49 c/kWh
Typical Sizes And Installed Cost
Equipment, materials, electrical work and permits are priced the same everywhere. Only the labor line is adjusted to this state, which is why these ranges sit close to the national ones.
| Size | Equipment | DIY installed | Pro installed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9k BTU/h | $900 to $1,900 | $1,670 to $5,015 | $2,974 to $8,170 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 12k BTU/h | $1,000 to $2,400 | $1,820 to $5,665 | $3,300 to $9,171 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 18k BTU/h | $1,400 to $3,200 | $2,320 to $6,715 | $4,063 to $10,923 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 24k BTU/h | $1,800 to $4,200 | $2,870 to $8,015 | $4,877 to $12,926 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
Incentives
UTILITY_REBATE
Claiborne Electric Cooperative Electric Heat Pump Program
Applications open
The cooperative's May 28, 2026 member notice says rebates are available and directs members to its offices; no close date is published.
Mini-split coverage unclear
The current offer says electric heat pump but does not expressly say ductless or mini-split.
New home or gas-to-electric heating conversion: $100 per ton, up to $500 per unit. Replacement of existing electric heating: $50 per ton, up to $250 per unit. Multiple units may qualify, with a five-ton cap per unit.
- Equipment
- An energy-efficient electric heat pump installed by a Claiborne Electric member in a new home, as a conversion from gas to electric heating, or as a replacement for existing electric heating. Members may receive rebates for more than one unit, capped at five tons per unit.
- Income
- No income restriction is published.
- Efficiency
- The cooperative requires an energy-efficient electric heat pump but does not publish a numeric SEER2 or HSPF2 threshold on the current program page; the member must confirm qualifying equipment with the cooperative before purchase.
- Install
- The system must serve an eligible Claiborne Electric member property. The current notice directs interested members to contact the Homer or Farmerville cooperative office for program details and rebate handling.
UTILITY_REBATE
Cleco Power Wise Residential HVAC Rebate Program
Applications open
Cleco's current Power Wise program page publishes the offer and approved-contractor path, subject to available funds.
Does not cover mini-splits
Cleco's program brochure expressly limits the offer to central heat pumps connected to conventional forced-air ductwork.
Up to $3,500 for a qualifying heat-pump replacement, based on efficiency and system size.
- Equipment
- A qualifying central heat pump connected to conventional forced-air ductwork and installed for a Cleco residential customer. A customer with an existing gas furnace must upgrade to an eligible dual-fuel heat-pump configuration under program rules.
- Income
- No income restriction is published for the standard residential HVAC offer.
- Efficiency
- The complete qualifying central heat-pump system must be AHRI matched; the incentive varies by published efficiency and equipment size.
- Install
- A Cleco-approved contractor must install and submit the qualifying equipment. The incentive is included in the contractor's purchase price or quote and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis while program funds remain.
UTILITY_REBATE
Energy Smart New Orleans HVAC Replacement Incentives
Applications open
The 2026 application covers installations through December 31, 2026, subject to program rules and available funds.
Covers mini-splits
The 2026 incentive application expressly names ductless mini-split and publishes separate replacement amounts.
Central heat pump: $200, $225, or $250 depending on the published efficiency tier. Ductless mini-split: $250 when replacing a heat pump or $500 when replacing electric resistance heat.
- Equipment
- Qualifying central air-source heat pumps and ductless mini-split heat pumps installed for an eligible Entergy New Orleans residential customer during the 2026 program year.
- Income
- No income restriction is published for the standard HVAC replacement incentives.
- Efficiency
- Central heat-pump tiers begin at 15.2 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 and rise with published efficiency. A ductless mini-split must reach at least 17 SEER2 and 7.7 HSPF2.
- Install
- The complete qualifying installation must be supported by the AHRI certificate, itemized invoice, and signed application. Install or service must occur from January 1 through December 31, 2026, and the application must be submitted within 45 days. Inspection may be required.
UTILITY_REBATE
SWEPCO Louisiana HVAC Incentive Program
Applications open
The 2026 program runs January 19 through November 27, 2026, or until funds are exhausted, and the current consumer page offers participating-contractor lookup.
Covers mini-splits
The current 2026 HVAC overview expressly makes mini-split air conditioners and heat pumps stand-alone measures with incentives matching the central measures.
Income tiers affect amount
Standard incentives have no published income limit. Income Qualified incentives require household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and the program's required qualification evidence.
Standard heat-pump tiers: $350, $400, $500, or $600 per ton at the published 14.8, 16, 17, and 18+ SEER2 bands; replacement of electric resistance heat pays $3,000 per system. Income Qualified tiers are $450, $500, $600, or $700 per ton, or $3,500 per system when replacing electric resistance heat. Corresponding stand-alone mini- split incentives match the central-system measure.
- Equipment
- Qualifying central or stand-alone mini-split air-source heat pumps installed in an existing home. Standard and Income Qualified paths are consolidated because they share the same 2026 program and are not established as stackable.
- Efficiency
- A heat pump must be AHRI matched, no larger than 5.4 tons, and reach at least 14.8 SEER2, 10.8 EER2, and 7.8 HSPF2. Higher per-ton tiers begin at 16, 17, and 18 SEER2. The 2026 overview says stand-alone mini-split air conditioners and heat pumps receive the corresponding central-system incentive.
- Install
- A participating licensed contractor must install and submit the qualifying project for an active SWEPCO Louisiana residential account. The program applies the incentive through contractor pricing and requires submission within 45 days of installation.
Federal credit timing and state-program caveats are covered in the mini-split rebates and tax credits guide.
Code Notes
- East Baton Rouge Parish and the City of Baton Rouge publish a $125 residential trade-permit fee for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or gas work, plus a $25 technology fee. A mini-split project may require more than one trade permit and other scope-specific charges. This is a Baton Rouge/East Baton Rouge planning example, not a statewide fee; the local authority must confirm the permits and current total.
Sources
Covers climate zone.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, June 2026 residential electricity ratesSourced Sep 2026
Covers electricity rate cents per kwh.
Covers labor cost multiplier.
- City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Permit and Inspection FeesSourced Sep 2026
Covers permit fee note.
- Operating-cost calculator methodology
Example calculation assumptions.
- Installation-cost calculator methodology
National planning ranges for equipment and installation.