On Demand Water Heaters?????????

[jinjimbob]

RaT, yep, but most of in this 'rural living' section do not have access to natural gas, so we must use propane which costs many times that of electricity.

Besides, the natural gas company that services the area near me is the also the electric company, PSE. So they have no reason to be competitive.

 

[_RaT_]

RaT, yep, but most of in this 'rural living' section do not have access to natural gas, so we must use propane which costs many times that of electricity.

Besides, the natural gas company that services the area near me is the also the electric company, PSE. So they have no reason to be competitive.

I have PG&E or Pacific Gas and Electric. The gas is very competitive but the electricity, I think they must sell it electron by electron charging a buck for each one. I am not sure what propane is here right now, there is no tax on it so that helps, I suspect its $3 plus a gallon. We are the last ones on NG in my area, after that its all propane.

 

[Highbeam]

Natural gas is a much cheaper fuel to use than propane in most parts of the country. Many of the rural folks on this site about tractors are not served by natural gas, myself included, so the only gas available is propane which is very expensive. Further, I have my location listed in my profile and you will see that I am in the NW where we have a good bit of hydroelectric power. Electricity is pretty cheap.

Don't trust the $$$$ to operate labels at the stores. Those labels have no way to accomodate the rapid changes in fuel prices that we have seen recently.

Oh and I think that we will see the petroleum fuels remain quite expensive and the electric rates stay relatively low. The alternative energy sources being proposed pretty much all are used to create electricity to be piped to our homes using the power lines. So any cheap energy of the future will make it to your home in the form of electricity IMHO.

 

[_RaT_]

Natural gas is a much cheaper fuel to use than propane in most parts of the country. Many of the rural folks on this site about tractors are not served by natural gas, myself included, so the only gas available is propane which is very expensive. Further, I have my location listed in my profile and you will see that I am in the NW where we have a good bit of hydroelectric power. Electricity is pretty cheap.

Don't trust the $$$$ to operate labels at the stores. Those labels have no way to accomodate the rapid changes in fuel prices that we have seen recently.

Oh and I think that we will see the petroleum fuels remain quite expensive and the electric rates stay relatively low. The alternative energy sources being proposed pretty much all are used to create electricity to be piped to our homes using the power lines. So any cheap energy of the future will make it to your home in the form of electricity IMHO.

I hope your right. I would surely love to get my hands on some solar panels. You see, our electricity is a fortune, probably the highest in the US after you consider transmission and distribution numbers. There are many ways to generate electricity but gas is gas. I look at the labels on the water heaters and can quickly compare my cost per therm on NG versus my cost per KW after factoring transmission and distribution costs. I'd say at about 32 cents per kilowatt, the gas is considerably cheaper. Perhaps its also why solar is getting so popular here. My sister in law has a 3500 watt panel set up and comes close to zeroing out her electric bill. I'm envious of your electricity cost. You do need to do your homework on this stuff.

 

[Highbeam]

Wow, 32 cents per KwH. That's a problem. We are in the 10 cent range after all is said and done. I use 1000 KwH and spend 100$ per month on avergage for the whole bill. Propane is in the 3$ per gallon range locally picked up.

So yes, your local energy rates can significantly effect the cost of heating water using different fuels.

 

[_RaT_]

Wow, 32 cents per KwH. That's a problem. We are in the 10 cent range after all is said and done. I use 1000 KwH and spend 100$ per month on avergage for the whole bill. Propane is in the 3$ per gallon range locally picked up.

So yes, your local energy rates can significantly effect the cost of heating water using different fuels.

I should clarify that, about 32 cents after your in tier 3. We have a progressive rate structure. It encourages you to use less. My gas and electric bill for a month runs about $250. We do have a swimming pool pump that adds to that. Gotta have the pool! Good comments Highbeam.

 

[Highbeam]

Woops, checked my power bill last night and found that my rate is 7 cents per KwH for the first 600 and then 9 cents for each additional KwH. Plus a "customer charge" or 6$. So it is more like 8 cents per KwH total. Dang that's cheap.

I've enjoyed the thread too. I even checked out the smaller point of use tank style water heaters that use 1500 watts (normal 110 plugin) and provide 2.5 -4 gallons of tank capacity for a bathroom sink or other smaller use. This would prevent a lot of wasted hot water when trying to get hot water at the sink for hand/face/woman washing. Since every drop of water that you run through the hot tap at the sink is heated water, even the cold water while you wait to fill the line with hot, a point of use water heater would save at least the line's water. Plus convenience.