Price check on converting to Natural gas ?

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> So far haven't been able to come up with an apples to apples comparison in cost versis electric. </font>

Do a search for the state utilities commission or maybe the university extension office online. You might find tables comparing heating methods in either of those places. After I found the numbers for Ohio at that time, I took them and plugged them into a spreadsheet to figure which way would be cheapest, with all factors included (cost of the furnace, storage tanks, installation, etc.)

 

[Mrwurm]

Maybe thats why I don't know if its a good deal. The gas company has provided no details on distance or cost per foot, just a flat price.

 

[kenmac]

Where I live it isn't a state or fed regulation. It is a deal that is made with industrial users.Industrial users buy gas( from the gas co. ) for alot less than a residental user. Gas companies usually buy gas when prices are low so they stock up on the amount that they think they will sell durning the winter.The colder it gets the higher the usage. If the gas co don't cut the high users off (industrial users) the gas co could run out of that low priced gas that they stocked up on . They would have to go back to the supplier and purchase gas at possibly a higher rate. Some of the large industrial customers can switch to an alternate fuel such as propane, coal, diesel and keep operating. I don't know if your gas utility will do it or not. but, after you pay for the line to be installed, anyone that connects onto the line that you paid to have installed will pay a fee. that connection fee should be paid back to you so that you get your investment back.

 

[gsxr1100]

Our G&E installed the piping from the street to my house for FREE! They do that for everyone. The piping was a complete joke since I looked at it when I install my inground sprinklers. Paid a plumber ($200 to install the pipe in house to all outlets); not rocket science.

I had everything oil in my house and went to NG. Much better, cleaner, etc.

Furnace is 94% efficient and overkill for my house (made for businesses), fireplace is 84% , water tank is (no clue on %), stove for cooking (no clue) and Maytag drier (no clue).

Is it worth it, yes in the long run. For me it did bring my value of my home up about 5X to 6X what I paid for the items. Then again, I got the furnace, water tank, A/C-a coil and compressor at dealer price). Installed for about the price of my new BX22 54” mowerdeck!

Here (link below) is what I pay for 1,800 sq feet heating and cooling in Mass. Summer it gets over 100 F and winters are about 5 to 10 F at nights (some –0 F). Inside my home is 68 summer and 72 winter..

Don’t forget I have a 75 gallon reef tank running 24/7 with lights (T5), pumps, heaters, wavemakers, etc.

For me, it is cheap…

http://home.comcast.net/~mburnickas/gas_and_elec.pdf

 

[Mrwurm]

Thanks for the reference material Mike /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Its much appreciated /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[kensfarm]

"That comes out to $183 per month all year round. I'm running a gas furnace and hot water heater. (electric dryer)"

Wow.. my house is all electric.. I use wood pellot stove & fireplace to heat in the winter. Last's month's electric bill was $119. Wood pellots run $179/ton.. I use about 2 1/2 - 3 tons for the winter. Avg. over 12 months that's $45

Currently run..

2 window AC units(one is 15000 btu.. runs 24/7 in summer)
water heater
stove & microwave
washer & dryer
2 Fridge/Freezers
lights/TV/Computer
2 fans & 3 flouresant bulbs running 24hrs day in barns..
filter pump for pool (runs 24 hrs day)
well pump for house
well pump for irrigation()

I've heard by 2007 w/ electric deregulation.. prices will skyrocket. $10,000 would pay the electric bill for about 8 years.

 

[gsxr1100]

I do not know if listed every electric or heater device will help since you do not know the efficiency of each and the price for the fuel. The water heater could use a lot or not. Do you do 4 loads of clothes of 15 each week? Your microwave could be a 600 watt or a 2000 watt. Same with every device listed. Also each states rates of electrons is different, same with NG. Right off the bat look at comparing each other Kw and not products you use. NG has different rates for the product, transportation, distribution etc etc,

Some areas yes it is worth it and some are not. I know around here (in my state), try selling an all electric home is next to impossible. No one will touch it. I had oil and get rid of that since oil is more expensive around here. I know around here NG in homes is a huge selling point as is sewer lines.

Example: I compared my kW rates to my friends down the street from me. He thinks 75 F is cool in the summer for his AC and 65 is warm in the winter. Never mind not using the electric dryer since $80 is a lot of power (electric) per month. For me I will throw in a few hours at work to sleep in cool weather and clothes that are soft. Then again more efficient cost more money but you need them long term to make the delta in money back.

 

[Tom_Trees]

Is this NIPSCO?

I was quoted $2,700 to run the line 650 feet down the road to my place when I built the house. The engineer who did the work said this would be spread over 3 years and I had a choice of monthly or annual settlement -- and I should do annual.

Seems this was actually a minimum usage fee -- if I went monthly, any month I used less than $75 I'd be billed for the difference; if I used more than $75, I'd get credit only for the $75 for the month. On an annual settlement, if I used less than $900 I'd get billed for the difference.

I went with it, and the gas company ended up extending from my place to another subdivision before the year was up and my contract was voided.

So check to see if this is a minimum usage charge, and how many years you'll get to spread it over. And go annual if possible.

Tom

 

[Mrwurm]

Thanks folks, here's the latest.

I have tried to get additional details from the gas company but all I've learned is that they charge $7.35 per foot. I still need more details like the total run and where they intend to run the line on my property.

As for conversion cost, I am willing to replace my 12 yr old propane jetted water heater with a natural gas model if necessary. The only other gas appliance is the furnace. I hope that can be re-jetted for NG.

Also, when I moved to this house about ten years ago, I was surprised at my electric cost. I was paying about $80 a month in an 1800 sq ft home. (with gas furnace) When we moved to our current home (2200 sq ft with gas furnace) our electric costs were about $125 per month and have crept up to where we pay about $180 per month. We keep the heat at 68deg in the winter and we only run A/C about five days every summer (My wife hates A/C) Our well is shallow (55 ft) with a 1/2 hp pump and we do not water our lawn. I have no idea how we use 1600 kwh per month on average.

Oh, and I have also been told that the gas company no longer rebates any fees if someone else connects to the line that I paid to install.

 

[Mrwurm]

hmm /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

What is a NIPSCO ?