Electric heat has never been competitve in most of the country. You rarely
see electric heat in the NorthEastern U.S. because electricity is expensive
here, well above 10 cents per kWh in most places. I pay 15 cents per kWh
for electricity including about 2.5 cents for green power, but even without
that extra green charge, I would still be paying 12.5 cents per kWh. Hardly
worth going electric for heat unless absolutely necessary, for example when
oil runs out and there are no alternatives. A better use of electricity to
heat a home would be to install a geothermal heat pump and run that off
electric. Geothermal heat pump heaters are 50-70% more efficient than gas
or oil heaters and would use less electricity than straight electric heat.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Terry Blanton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <vortex-l@eskimo.com>
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 4:01 PM
Subject: Gas vs. Electric Heating
Today, I am paying $1.10 per therm for natural gas. This amounts to about
3.75 cents per kWh. I have an older furnace whose efficiency is around
80% increasing the heating cost to 4.7 cents per kWh. Add in the cost of
the blower electricity and the gas service charge, and I'm paying over a
nickel per kWh to heat my house.
Electric space heaters are 100% efficient. I presently pay about 10 cents
per kWh for e-. Rumors abound that natural gas costs will soar this
winter. If gas doubles, it's cheaper to use electricity assuming that
price remains the same.
