"Greg O" wrote in message
...


"Dominic" wrote in message
news:xQh5f.43153$ir4.36695@edtnps90...
Anyone considering a conversion to electric heat now that gas is so
expensive. According to my utility, electric heat is now cheaper than
gas
when using a 65% AFUE furnace. Our gas is $1.3/therm vs 6 cents/kwh for
electric.



Put in a 95% furnace and gas will be cheaper again!

At $.06/kwh you are paying $17.76 per million BTU for resistance electric
heat.

Yes, but a heat pump might cut than number in half except on the very cold
days.

We moved from a medium sized townhouse (1200 sq ft plus semi-finished
basement) to a good sized ranch home on full basement (3000+ sq ft of living
space). The townhome had gas heat and air conditioning; the ranch house is
all electric. The electric bill for the ranch house was about the same as
the combined electric/gas for the townhouse. And that was back in 1998.

We rent out the townhouse. The vent for the gas furnace and the gas water
heater is metal. IF ANYTHING ever goes wrong with that vent, we will
convert the place over to ALL ELECTRIC. The vent space could be use to run
electric and communication wiring for upgrades to the upper floors.

You MUST have electric service anyway so the metering charge is already
built in. If you can get rid of the gas service (with all electric) you
might be ahead.



At $1.3/therm, 65% furnace you are paying $20 per million BTU

Or with a 94% furnace you are paying $13.83 per million BTU.

Don't forget all taxes and city charges! Our utility advertises $.06 per
kwh, but after taxes and other misc charges it comes out to close to $.08
per kwh. Gas is similar! Advertised $1.12 per therm, but it comes out to
$1.66 per therm. Also gas has gone up in price, but electric rates will
follow along too. I was working at a large government owned electricity
provider today and was told electric is going up soon. At this time my bet
is if in your area gas has been historically cheaper it will continue to
do
so.
Greg