How much will my gas bill go up if I raise the thermostat????

[ford91exploder]

Yup, 10 year old thread but just as current today as it was 10 years ago I think checking with your utility provider is a good start.

I can't help as I live in an all electric house in what was built as an all electric subdivision. But in 1991 our electric rates soared due to the cost of paying to close our nuclear power plant. I think the December 1990 electric bills were $250 to $300. So some of the neighbors paid to have a gas line pulled in, and replaced their furnaces, stoves and water heaters to the tune of about $10,000 per household. Then electric rates went back to normal and natural gas rates soared, so December 1991 they were looking at $400-$500 natural gas bills.
I'm in California, and 40 cities here have banned natural gas in new homes and businesses (Oakland did yesterday https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea...tural-gas-in-new-residential-and-15768549.php) because of a move away from fossil fuels, and apparently fumes from natural gas cooking are a huge trigger for those with asthma. So electric it the future here. Just as well, I can't cook on a gas stove. The place I lived for 3 years in college had a gas stove I no matter how low the flame was, I burned my food. I am better able to regulate the heat on an electric stove.

Oy vey!, So california mandates that one must heat and cook with the most expensive source of energy Electricity...

We have examples of insanity on both coasts. In the East we have "Florida Man" In the West we have "California Legislator" and both are certifiably crazy but Florida Man makes funnier videos

 

[DVCjj]

50? 55? Are you kidding me?

I live in the frozen tundra of the Midwest and would never ever think of having the thermostat go below 70 in winter day OR night. It's usually at 72. I'm always freezing and I would sooner cut down on food than heat if finances were a problem.

Cannot. Stand. Being. Cold.

 

[tvguy]

Oy vey!, So california mandates that one must heat and cook with the most expensive source of energy Electricity...

We have examples of insanity on both coasts. In the East we have "Florida Man" In the West we have "California Legislator" and both are certifiably crazy but Florida Man makes funnier videos

Certainly utility rates vary, but in Northern California electricity is the least expensive energy source for heating and cooking.

 

[ford91exploder]

Certainly utility rates vary, but in Northern California electricity is the least expensive energy source for heating and cooking.

Not so in Southern CA, Heck tech companies are relocating to Austin TX because of the massive energy costs in the Santa Clara valley

 

[tvguy]

Not so in Southern CA, Heck tech companies are relocating to Austin TX because of the massive energy costs in the Santa Clara valley

They'll keep moving then since it looks like natural gas won't be allowed in new construction in California.

 

[Keli]

Certainly utility rates vary, but in Northern California electricity is the least expensive energy source for heating and cooking.

I like gas for cooking and heat better than electric and right now I have neither, lol. But we're likely going to purchase a new home soon and it has gas for heating so it will be relatively easy to put a gas stove in when we do some renovations. I feel like I can regulate the temp better with gas when cooking. And for whatever reason (probably my imagination, lol) but gas heat always feels 'warmer' to me. I've lived in homes that were all electric and I've lived in homes with gas heat and I have consistently preferred the gas heat. I'm always cold in the winter and put a high priority on being warm.

 

[tvguy]

I like gas for cooking and heat better than electric and right now I have neither, lol. But we're likely going to purchase a new home soon and it has gas for heating so it will be relatively easy to put a gas stove in when we do some renovations. I feel like I can regulate the temp better with gas when cooking. And for whatever reason (probably my imagination, lol) but gas heat always feels 'warmer' to me. I've lived in homes that were all electric and I've lived in homes with gas heat and I have consistently preferred the gas heat. I'm always cold in the winter and put a high priority on being warm.

I burned many a meal on a gas stove the three years I had a gas stove.

 

[Keli]

I am shivering just thinking of some of these temperatures. I am always cold so in the winter I set the thermostat at 74 to be toasty.
Sitting at work with a space heater!

I agree! I like to be toasty. I am also sitting at work with a space heater on except my 'work' is currently at home and I don't want to drive up our electric bill and I've found these little ceramic electric heaters throw out a ton of heat and don't take the bill up much. Which makes my DH happy, lol.

 

[firefly_ris]

I like gas for cooking and heat better than electric and right now I have neither, lol. But we're likely going to purchase a new home soon and it has gas for heating so it will be relatively easy to put a gas stove in when we do some renovations. I feel like I can regulate the temp better with gas when cooking. And for whatever reason (probably my imagination, lol) but gas heat always feels 'warmer' to me. I've lived in homes that were all electric and I've lived in homes with gas heat and I have consistently preferred the gas heat. I'm always cold in the winter and put a high priority on being warm.

Yeah I couldn't fathom how much our electric bills would be if we tried to heat our home here in Buffalo with electric heat. It would never shut off!

We also got rid of the electric oven (well, moved it into the basement) and installed a gas stove this summer.... the electric was here when we bought the house 8 years ago, so I did mostly get used to it, but still prefer the better heat control on the gas.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

I hate getting high gas bills.. we keep out heat set kinda low and we use small ceramic space heaters in the room we are in. I dont find it necessary to heat the whole house for one room maybe 2.

 

[elgerber]

I am so grateful for low gas rates where I am. In MN we use the furnace, a LOT! I have gas stove, dryer and water heater also, and our gas is only $48 a month year round.

 

[dclpluto]

You can’t just think about yourself. You have to think about your fur babies also. I have a Akita and she doesn’t like the temp high. A young dog we have also has a lot of hair doesn’t like the temp high either. So it works out. One time I had the Akita and another dog that got cold. Had to find the happy medium for both of the dogs.