Propane vs. Electric (California: house, buy, live)

[Rosanne]

I was wondering if I could get some information regarding propane vs. electric stove/oven. We are planning on moving to the Lehigh Valley next year and I'm noticing that most homes have electric stoves. Here in So. California, we've only used natural gas and we really prefer it over electric.

Is it expensive to replace an electric stove with a gas one, using propane, and is the conversion to a propane supply for a stove easy to do? Can it be done by a homeowner or does a plumber have to do it, and if a plumber comes out to install the propane tank, does he do the whole job (from the tank to the kitchen), or do we need to get another installer for that part of the job?

It seems like when we buy a home in PA, we will most likely be getting an electric stove with it, but we would definitely be changing it out to gas.

Thanks for any information you can provide on this. It will be greatly appreciated.

Also, on another topic, is oil more expensive than propane to heat a home? Like I said, here in So. California, we have natural gas for our heat, hot water, stove/oven and our clothes dryer. Our heating bill is so inexpensive, we are spoiled.

Thanks again.

[Rosanne]

I'm wondering if I should post this on the other PA forums too. Might be a good idea?

[toobusytoday]

Maybe. We've just always gone with whatever was in the house we bought. I don't especially like electric ranges but they work fine. I'm a bit confused by your choice of the word propane. I think people around here use oil, natural gas or electric. Is propane the same as natural gas?

[Rosanne]

No, natural gas is different from propane. We have natural gas here in So. Calif. and it is provided by the gas company. Propane is delivered to a propane tank and works kind of like the propane tank you have hooked up to your barbecue.