On Sun, 04 Nov 2012 13:54:29 -0600, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

You lucked out on your heating system. If you have a gas water heater
you can live like civilized people without electricity.

Many hot water heaters require electricity for ignition now that
conservation and safety has mandated no more pilot lights.

Ditto furnaces and they also require a hot air blower of a hot water
circulation pump.