> 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. In the UK natural gas is artificially cheap due to the need to waste North Sea Gas and use it up before it should be used so consumer NG cogen plants are attractive there - which is why the Whispergen Stirling sale was made. The US pricing seems equally wrong but in the other direction. In NZ domestic electricity is almost to $NZ0.20/kWh (about $US0.14/kWh) and home cogen using old diesel engines is starting to look attractive. A single lunger Lister or similar (which will run for about forever due to low energy density) and a surplus alternator should compete very nicely with the latest rates. Diesel is about $NZ1/litre retail at present. RM -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist