From time to time people ask about relative costs of different energy sources. These data were published for June 2009, showing typical recent costs and how they compare.
Natural gas at $0.41 per therm ($0.42 per ccf), propane at $2.27 per gallon, and #2 fuel oil at $2.18 per gallon. The cost for million BTU of each works out to $4.13 for natural gas, $24.75 for propane, and $15.68 for oil. For local costs you can use these figures and adjust.
Replies
You forgot electricity. Do your fuel costs include the combustion efficiency (looks like it doesn't)? It should. Costs will increase by say 20% to get usable Btu's out of your figures. $0.07/kwh is equal to $20.50/MBtu including the efficiency.
bad thing about natural ags, it can increase over night for no reason, at least electricity is regulated, it stay close the same all year round. I was paying about $100 a year for natural gas, and then the next year it went to $900. for no reason.
Some people would say the same about electricity. "It went sky high" "for no reason". I assure you there are LOTS of reasons. [natural] Gas and electricity are routinely regulated by e.g. the PUCs. Oil products (including propane) are more regulated by market forces (but I'm not really that knowlegeable about oil market forces).
Frankly I think oil products fluctuate in price much more 'for no reason' than anything. Price per barrell goes up ... immediately gas goes up. When it goes down, the pump price seems to lag a LOT. So before the pump price catches up, I get the feeling the oil companies are making a killing. That is my theory ... the big bucks are really made as the barrell price goes on a downward trend ... completely unsubstantiated theory, though. My 'armchair' theory.
I think that the way NG prices are regulated varries a lot. In some areas you can contract with a number of different "suppliers", but of there is separate cost for the local pipeline to the house. Don't have any idea if that is typically billed separately or included in the supplier charges.And the suppliers are just marketers have arrange contracts with the producers.Those are lesser regulated in their price.We have a conventional NG gas company. But they have a mix of long term contracts, gas that they buy during the summer store, and spot purchases. The gas price is a straight pass through. But it is adjused twice a year based on average cost and projections. Last year when the prices dropped so fast they did a 3rd adjustment.BTW, there are some good online calculators. They start with averaqge prices, but allow you to change. Also allow selection of equipement efficieces..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
Right, some NG markets can be much more variable. Even w/ the PUC looking on, they allow monthly market fluctuations in gas prices due to certain factors (usually caused by fluctuating markets, I think). The account I work on has transportation costs and then charges by maybe 2 seperate suppliers the utility uses.
They are not my figures. Electricity was not included in the data I came across. Yes, efficiency needs to be taken into account, and that is easily done when going all the way to compare, for example, particular heating systems for a home.
Hi,
You can use my calculator to compare fuel costs, including combustion efficiency:
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Calculators/Fuels/FuelCompare.htm
I think that if the new energy bill with cap and trade goes through that electricity is likely to go up faster that other fuels -- its by far the most carbon intensive.
Gary
That is my guess also.And in my area most comes from coal. Which has double whammy..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
<<Natural gas at $0.41 per therm ($0.42 per ccf), propane at $2.27 per gallon, and #2 fuel oil at $2.18 per gallon. The cost for million BTU of each works out to $4.13 for natural gas, $24.75 for propane, and $15.68 for oil. For local costs you can use these figures and adjust.>>
Our natural gas costs are $16-18 per MCF (1,000 cu ft), so yours are incredibly cheap. Electricity is .07 yo .08 per KwHr, so I estimate a break even point about 80% efficient for gas appliances.