One of the most common questions Georgia homeowners ask is whether natural gas or electricity is cheaper for heating their home and powering major appliances. The answer, for most households in Georgia, is natural gas -- and it is not close.
Heating Your Home
A natural gas furnace costs roughly $0.70 to produce 100,000 BTU of heat (at current Georgia rates). An electric heat pump costs about $1.05 for the same amount of heat, and electric resistance heating costs approximately $2.93.
Over a Georgia winter, that difference can mean $200-400 in savings for natural gas customers compared to electric heat pump users, and even more compared to electric baseboard heating.
Water Heating
A natural gas water heater costs about $250-300 per year to operate. An electric water heater costs $400-500 for the same usage. Over the 10-12 year lifespan of a water heater, that adds up to $1,500-2,400 in savings.
Natural gas water heaters also recover faster -- they can heat a new tank of water in about 30 minutes, compared to an hour or more for electric.
Drying Clothes
A natural gas dryer costs roughly $0.15-0.25 per load. An electric dryer costs $0.30-0.50 per load. For a family doing 6-8 loads per week, that difference adds up to $50-100 per year.
Gas dryers also tend to dry clothes faster because they reach operating temperature more quickly.
Cooking
Natural gas ranges and ovens offer instant heat control and consistent temperatures. Cost differences for cooking are smaller -- perhaps $20-40 per year -- but many home cooks prefer gas for its responsiveness and precision.
The Bottom Line
For the major energy-consuming appliances in a Georgia home -- furnace, water heater, and dryer -- natural gas is consistently cheaper than electricity. Combined savings typically range from $300-600 per year.
If your home is already plumbed for natural gas, make sure you are taking advantage of it for heating, water heating, and laundry. If you are building or renovating, the cost of running gas lines is an investment that pays for itself quickly.
And of course, the per-therm rate you pay matters. A competitive fixed rate from True Natural Gas ensures you are getting the best deal on your natural gas supply.