Do you use electric or gas for heat? »
People everywhere are up-in-arms about the cost of gas heat. Yes, even in relatively mild Charlotte. Stories about $70 bills inflating to $210, a $125-150 average jumping to over $600, cutting back to 65 degrees and still getting a bill for $163. Why is everyone so hooked on gas?
Don't get me wrong here - I think gas is a cool way to cook, but I use electric because that's what's in the house. And the entirely heating and cooling system is run quite nicely through our electric heat pump. A lot of people have come down from the north, and perhaps they don't realize that in a relatively mild climate like Charlotte, you don't really need gas heat.
When we replaced our heat pump about a year ago, I even had one potential contractor for the job tell me that gas heat "just felt warmer". Huh? As I understand it, the limitation of heat pumps - or electric heat in general - is that they don't heat as quickly. But if they're churning along the whole time, they should do just fine. You simply can't turn it on and expect the temperature in the house to jump immediately - it takes a little bit.
The highest electric bill I've seen in the 6+ years I've been in this house is perhaps $180 - even with the 18-year-old heat pump we replaced not long ago. Add to that the fact that we power the entire house, including a number of computers and other electronic equipment, the clothes dryer, the oven, the range and the water heater, and keep the thermostat set between 68 and 74. Roughly 1800 square feet and a family of four, if you're curious.
I guess I just don't get why people prefer gas.
Comments (8)
Without putting a pencil to paper I would think that gas heat would be the most economical. Modern gas furnaces can run in excess of 90% efficiency.
If one uses some type of electrical device to make heat and that electricity was generated with natural gas, then I would expect a higher cost per BTU. Electrical power generation usually runs at about 33% to 36% efficiency. So, when one uses the electrical power to generate heat, you've already thrown away two-thirds of the available energy.
Now from a cost standpoint we have to consider distribution cost. I don't know if it cheaper to run electrical power lines or bury gas lines in the grounds. But residents will pay more per BTU for gas than the power company. Large customers always get a volume discount.
For my part I think natural gas is a great fuel for home heating, but I live in an areas that can get rather cold.
Posted by Ted | February 11, 2006 10:04 AM
Understood. And as with many other things, there is no context. The guy with the $600 bill may be heating a 10,000 foot house. That's his problem (on many levels).
I do get that gas is a more effcient product - but I'm not sure if it makes it the most economical, because of those distrbution costs.
Even if my heat pump is running at 50% effciency now, my bill is still a third of this guy's, and he's dropped his thermostat and my electric bill includes everything and not just heat. At some point, there is a tradeoff.
Interestingly enough, when we replaced the 18-year-old model, the electric bill didn't change a lot (though it did drop some) - indicating to me that the heat pump is pretty darn effcient and/or that heating doesn't make up a large part of our electric bill.
Posted by Chad Everett | February 11, 2006 10:14 AM
Need help to figure out why i am charged for using gas every month even when everything works on electricity.
The cooking range,dryer is electric, central AC etc.
What is gas needed for in Summer?
Can anyone explain? Is it to take monthly charges so that the bills don't shoot up in winter? i think i paid almost $360 a yr in gas charges? Do you think using the heater for 10-12 times a year would cost so much?
Posted by nina | June 22, 2006 4:37 PM
I'm a 49 year old woman on disability, and I live in Illinois. The winters here can be brutal at times. I purchased a small 3 bdrm ranch style house in a rural area, with the last of my savings from working.
Propane is used for heating, cooking, hot water, my fireplace, and my dryer. I purchased a brand new furnace right away, along with a brand new central air unit. I opened an account with Ferrellgas, and they put me on a budget plan. I was guaranteed a pymt. of $110.16 per month, for a year. And then they would reevaluate my acct, at the end of the year, and change my payments accordingly.
Here comes a bill after 9 months! Monthly amount from now on $189.00. OK, no problem, except their 3 months early and it's tax time, and I'm on permanent disability. I call them and was told,"Oh well,They did it early." Then in the same month of the new amount, here comes a 2nd bill. I now have to pay $365.00 per month!
I have to do something about the heat source, but I don't know what to do. I searched the net and found baseboard heaters. Does anyone know if they work well? Is there any other affordable way to get off of the propane as my heat source? Any info would greatly be appreciated.
Posted by Cherie' | July 16, 2006 4:42 PM
My husband and I are looking at homes for retirement. We found this lovely home but are concerned about the fact that it is entirely electric. I would appreciate any advice pro or con. I've also heard that electric heat is very dry. What would one do about this? Thanks, Carole
Posted by Carole | July 26, 2006 8:15 PM
I just got a new apartment in Atlanta and i have gas heat and stove and water heater.
The gas company charges me a 60 dollar start up fee ? that is cool right??? (the gas is already turned on at the new apartment all they did was get my billing info)
can't wait for my new bill.... I bought some electric heaters! ( to use when it rarely gets cold )
Posted by Josh | December 20, 2007 9:13 AM
Hi Josh -
I can't speak to the amount, but it's not unusual for the utility companies to charge something for a setup, and perhaps a deposit as well, depending on credit. $60 certainly doesn't seem out of the ordinary.
Posted by Chad Everett | January 6, 2008 9:28 AM
I've been living in a total electric mobile home for the last 15 years in NC and my electric bill has never been more than 180 bucks, thank god. My neighbor across the street got rid of his natural gas and went to LP gas. Natural gas is horribly expensive here and i see no point in paying a gas bill in the summer time just to run a stupid pilot light for heat.
In the years prior, (80's and 90's) when i had gas heat, it was cold and expensive, pilot lights always blew out, esp. on gas stoves which scared the living daylights out of me when having to relight them. In one house, I actually had to crawl under the house to light the furnace's pilot light--- stupid if you ask me.
When gas was "cheap", that was the norm in new construction and has been for some time until the last few of the Bush years.
Now that I'm looking to buy a real house I'm also looking to see if gas items can be replaced with electric. Personally, I don't like having one more bill i have to pay, let alone the hazards of living with natural gas. A study was done in Canada with families who had gas heat etc and found that gas emits all kinds of toxins, causes asthma and other respiratory illness and when those gas items were removed from the homes, sick people;s illnesses went away.
Now you tell me what's so great about natural gas.
You can bet I'll be converting anything gas to electric.
Posted by DeMer | July 4, 2008 12:29 PM