Gas vs. Electric Appliances - How to compare operating costs

The answer to the question of whether gas is cheaper than electric depends on the cost of gas and electricity in your area. It varies widely from state to state, and even within states -- and even significantly throughout the year. So your best bet is to do a test in your specific area, and write it down. To make such a comparison you'll need to know: The price of electricity in kWh and the price of gas per gallon. Now remember, electricity could be cheaper where you live, or in the future. The cost of natural gas has skyrocketed recently. Gas used to be a much better deal, but not so much anymore. Here's a quick example: gas is cheaper for stovetop, and electric is cheaper for oven baking. But the gas stove is cheaper to run because gas is cheaper than electricity. The microwave uses less energy, but the gas stove is cheaper financially. Look at just some of these factors when making your decision.