how do I compare the price of 1m3 natural gas to 1 m3 electricity?

Question

It is stated by the gas companies that natural gas is cheaper.
How does one compair? I live in Ontario canada

Answer 1

They will be comparing the equivalent energy content of the two forms of energy.

For gas, it's probably measured in BTU, and for electricity, it's measured in KWHr's

1000 BTU = 0.29 KWHr

To know how they compare, you'd have to know how many BTU's 1m3 of gas can provide (and how much that costs), versus the cost of the equivalent in electrical energy

Answer 2

It depends upon what you application of the natural gas and electricity are. First of all, a cubic meter of electricity doesn't make sense. Electricity is measured in ampere hours. However, if you are trying to compare the cost of 1 m3 of gas versus the equivalent amount of electrical energy, in a heating application, then the natural gas is cheaper. Take for example your home heating or water heater. Both can be run by natural gas or electricity. If you use gas, the heat of combustion, that is the burning in your furnace or water heater is directly converted to heat enery to warm your home or water. If that same natural gas is burned in a boiler to produce steam, and the steam is used to drive a steam turbine to make electricity, then you have energy losses at step in the process. You have inefficiency in the burning of the gas (same as in your furnace), you have inefficiency in heating the water to make steam. Then you have friction losses and inefficiency in the electrical generator, energy losses on the transmission lines and transformers that get the electricity to your house, and finally inefficiency in the electric heater. Add to that the cost of equipment - generators, transformers, power lines, and electricity as a heat source is more expensive than natural gas.

Hope this answers your question.

Answer 3

I agree with most of the answers that have been posted thus far.

Please visit http://www.cceci.com/Geothermal.html

Near the bottom of the page is a PowerPoint presentation that is available for download. It shows all of the steps involved with calculating electric vs. gas heating. You can follow along and insert your own fuel prices to determine if it is cheaper or not. Most people forget about the efficiency of their HVAC system, thus when you compare gas furnace to electric resistance furnace, it can be cheaper. But when you compare a gas furnace to a geothermal water source heat-pump, it is not likely that gas will be cheaper.

Sorry, but you will have to convert the natural gas measurements from metric to USA Std.!!

Answer 4

Gas companies usually measure billable units in therms. A therm is equal to 100,000 BTU of heat. Electricity usually bills in KWH. 1 therm =29.3 KWH (3412 BTU = 1 KWH). Find out the cost of gas and electricity from your bill or call the utilities and you can make the comparison.

Answer 5

I would expect the company to supply you with the average calorific value for 1m3 of gas, in fact the UK companies have to supply it on the bill. depending on what unit they give you (it may be in BTU's) you can convert your gas charge into kwh. Your electricity bill will already be in kwh.