On Tue, Nov 01, 2005 at 04:06:32PM -0600, Mike Hord wrote:
> > I guess I would need a spreadsheet that shows operating cost and heat and
> > electricity output vs. the same output from a standard gas heater and the
> > local utility company.
> 
> Or some quick math...
> 
> Power generation efficiency is 20%.  Is one BTU/joule/kwh/insert-your-
> favorite-flavor-of-energy-unit-here of electricity more or less expensive
> than 5 BTUs of natural gas?  Natural gas is usually measured in therms...
> 1 therm = 100,000 BTU = 29.3 kwh

But you have to multiply that by an efficiency factor. From a heating perspective
Electricity is 100% efficient. NG in a high efficiency unit is about 85%.

> Google says...
> http://www.apta.com/research/info/online/documents/fuelsurvy.pdf
> Outdated, for 1999-2000, but since both prices are for that time frame,
> something like apples and apples...
> $.071/kwh for electricity,
> $.6989/therm for natural gas = $.024/kwh

It's apples and gorillas now. I just switched to a Time of Use plan for
electricity and just locked in my NG rate for the next year. Try these on
for size:

Electricity: $0.0517/khw
NG: $1.679/therm

Ouch!

That's why I'm working desparately to switch out my ancient NG furnace for
electricity.

BAJ
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