Heat in Oklahoma (Howe: budget, house, oil)

[mkmccauley]

My husband and I are looking at purchasing a home in the area that has gas heat and electric everything else...if some of you remember we haven't moved to the area yet so we are doing this from a distance...Anyway, we have only ever had electric heat and one time we had an old oil heater. Do any of you have gas heat? Is it comparable in cost to electric? Does it fluctuate like our oil bill did? We are worried that we might be getting ourselves into some huge heating bill...I trie dto look online, but some people say they pay an arm and a leg for gas and others say that it is more efficient than electric? Can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Thanks...and Merry Christmas!

[Synopsis]

Hi,
I'm thinking propane would be the cheapest way to go, and I don't think you'd be paying an arm and a leg for using it. The real energy bills to dread in Oklahoma are the air conditioning bills in the summer. Much like Texas, Oklahoma Summers can be hot and the AC bill could run 100 or 200 dollars a month depending upon the size of your house. I wouldn't be too concerned about heating bills. However, since I'm not living there at the moment one of the other people living in OkC would be of more help. Good luck to you!

[peggydavis]

I have had both gas and electric heat. I think they are about the same in cost over the long run, but I like to have gas for cooking and hot water heating. The prices of natural gas do go up and down like heating oil, but you can be on a budgeted 12 month estimate with ONG so your bill is the same each month.

Electricity does not change in price so fast from month to month on your bills, but most electricity in Oklahoma is produced with natural gas, so the cost effect is about the same. Hope this makes sense to you.

[Goodpasture]

A couple of things to keep your energy consumption as low as possible.

get a gas on-demand water heater. A large house heater will cost about $1,000 plus installation (if you are good, you can do it yourself). It will pay for itself within 18 months of installation, just on the savings in gas, plus you NEVER run out of hot water......

get rid of any pilot lights that you may have. the electronic ignitions will save over $100 per year per pilot light.

I have a 1200 foot home in the country. I bought $280 propane last February. I bought another $250 last week. When ever possible use natural gas.....it is always cheaper. Second choice is propane. Third choice is electric. By keeping electric ONLY for refrigerator, freezers, lighting (and I have switched to the florescent bulbs), computers and electronics, I spend less than $50 a month in utilities.

[Convert 54]

I have had gas heat for my entire life here which is over 50 now.
Ive never had a problem paying the heating bill and this is an old drafty two story 2000square foot with three children who never believed they wernt born in a barn.
Dont worry about the natural gas. My highest bill ever was like 178 in January.

[mkmccauley]

Thank you to everyone who replied...you all certainly gave me something to base my opinion on and now I won't be so nervous about it. Thanks again!

[calitook]

My husband and I recently moved here from CA. We were a little worried that our energy bill would make up the cost of living savings. However, we bought from a builder that builds "energy efficient" and guarantees our heating/cooling costs for the first two years. That was a huge selling point for us when deciding to buy our house, and maybe something to consider.