A 1,500W heater at full power uses 1.5 kWh per hour, about 26 cents at the national average rate.

Yes per unit of heat. They cost 2 to 4 times more than a heat pump for the same warmth and suit single rooms only.

Heaters cycle once the room reaches temperature. Dropping 2 degrees cuts runtime roughly 10 percent.

Both convert near 100 percent of electricity to heat. Oil-filled cycles less and feels steadier but costs the same per kWh.