When it comes to energy plans for our homes, we tend to go with the cheapest option. The options, in this case, are electricity and gas. Of course, both have their share of benefits and drawbacks. However, today we are going to compare energy mainly in terms of cost.
Let’s first start by understanding the two energy sources.
Understanding gas and electricity
You can acquire gas in two forms; natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. The natural form is derived from main gas networks, while liquefied petroleum gas is delivered in large tanks. Gas is charged per megajoule (MJ).
On the other hand, electricity has many applications and is charged per kilowatt-hour. With electricity, you have to incur the costs of daily supply to cover the distributor’s transport to your home. However, it depends on your distributor and state.
Electricity vs. Gas Cost Comparison
Many people believe that gas is a cheaper option than electricity, but what’s the catch? If you compare energy in terms of units, one megajoule of gas is relatively cheaper than kilowatt-hour electricity. Yet, the kWh of electricity carries more energy than the MJ of gas. So don’t be surprised to find that electrical appliances use less electricity compared to their gas counterparts.
For instance, an electric oven might use 2.2 kWh of electricity, while a gas oven can use 13MJ per hour. However, an average consumption rate is where the difference comes in because, if you compare energy that way, gas appliances consume less than electric ones.
Gas and Electricity Appliance Costs
Gas appliances are relatively cheaper to run. However, they are more expensive when purchasing than electric appliances. In this case, you can decide whether you want to save money now or later.
On the other hand, cooking using gas appliances is relatively cheap compared to electric ones. And if you have both, go for gas to save in terms of usage rate.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Gas and Electricity
Let’s find out which energy has better benefits to make our final decision.
Gas and Electricity Pros and Cons
Gas hot water heaters are more costly to buy but cheaper to run compared to electric ones. On the contrary, electric water heaters are cheap to purchase but expensive to run.
Gas cooktops heat faster while electric ones do not. Additionally, purchasing a gas cooktop is expensive but running them is cheap. Comparatively, electric cooktops are cheap to buy but expensive to run.
Finally, gas ovens heat faster than electric ovens. Like the cooktops, gas ovens are more expensive to purchase compared to electric ones. But running a gas oven is cheaper than running an electric one.
However, those are a few comparisons. Do extensive research to find which one suits your needs.
Verdict
The information above shows that gas is relatively cheaper than electricity if you are lucky to have a natural gas connection. The only downside of using gas is the upfront cost of the appliances.
But if you don’t have enough funds or think it may take a long time to save and equip your household with gas appliances, you can opt for electric ones. However, as a homeowner, the decision is yours to make after weighing your options.
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