On May 30, 11:24*pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 7:48 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:





"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 5:20 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:

My 3000+ sq ft (incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with
an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a
heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per
gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget
billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon
as
a
planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280
gallons
per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated
and
for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year. They
claimed it was a 50% increase. I don't see how a jump from about $150 to
$300 per month is 50%. That's 100%. With oil heat on the first floor, my
annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an
investment
for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first floor to a
second heat pump or other energy source? If so, what other factors need
to
be considered, for example will my electric panel be able to handle two
heat
pumps? I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather than one plus oil/
a/c -
that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. Would I be better to deplete it over the
next
winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? Will a HVAC company dispose of the
oil
tank? Any other issues to consider? If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?

What is the Kwh cost you now pay, that will determine if a heat pump
will save you money.

_______________

I mentioned I average $300 at 2400 kWh per month. That's about $0.125 per
kWh, when including taxes and fees loaded onto the utility's per unit
cost/kWh.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

.125c is fairly cheap, probably cheaper per btu than fuel oil but you
have to calculate the btu of each, boiler efficency and heat pump
output. And when is your utility co alowed another increase.

_______________

.125c is 100 times cheaper than 12.5c.

Your exercise is what I asked for. *I want to know if someone in the group
knows which is cheaper (per BTU) - oil at $4.50 per gallon, or heat pump at
$0.125/kWh, and by how much, as well as the cost to convert, so I can
compute the duration to recoup the investment. *The utility is now
deregulated, so assume they can charge whatever they want, whenever they
want. *Just like oil.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

MY exercise? its your money and you dont offer me pay. I think you are
way late buddy and missed the boat for years, you say you had 6c kwh
for years, well 6ckwh and a heat pump to me means you were much
cheaper for many many years and should not have been using oil along
long time ago, even electric space heaters could have been helping
you. Here in the midwest we have been at 12.5c kwh since the 80s and
are now near 14 going on 16c kwh. Electric may still be cheaper for
you, i dont know, you need to find a comparison chart or make your
own. As I see it you have 3000sq ft and average 500 a month in
utilities in winter I will bet your windows, and insulation are well
under par as well. Your heat pump I am guessing is alot cheaper still,
and converting you get bids. Maybe electric resistance is cheaper. If
you find a fuels cost comparitor post it.