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What's "on thermal?"

Geothermal?

Why would that go up (significantly)? Seems like geothermal would be pretty resistant? IE, the cost to run things like pumps should still be a fraction of the cost to heat using gas.

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From what I've understood once you go below a certain temperature you can no longer pump and start heating using electricity instead. Which gets expensive as fuck. I have several friends in this situation. Sounds like something you'd think about in a country that gets cold every winter but I don't know. One explanation I've heard is that they didn't use to drill as deep as they do nowadays (I think most of my friends had their installed in the 90's) or something.

Well, what does "on thermal" mean? I interpret it as going into geothermal sources of heat, where the groundwater is already heated. (IE, the groundwater is something like 100+ degrees F, or 45+ degrees C.)

As opposed to heat pumps, which you described.

A friend drilled a new hole 5 years ago with a modern pump attached, with water carrier, still draws more power than we do for our 2 air pumps (cheap variants).

Update: He drilled 160 meters into mountain.

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