Reduce your propane pains with ELECTRIC HEAT
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ACTUAL COST COMPARISON: $200 of heat on propane would cost about $110 on Capital Electric's off-peak electric program. |
The dreaded summer propane fill is fast-approaching. Are you ready for another whopper of a bill? If you currently use propane or natural gas as your primary source of heating, you can add an electric heat product to your home or place of business and qualify for the co-op’s dual-fuel and straight electric heat programs.
While there are a number of products to choose from, one of the most simple and efficient may be a plenum heater. If you have a propane tank and an adequate circuit panel, you can add a plenum heater to your furnace. Click here to learn more about the plenum and other electric heat products.
The costs associated with installing a plenum heater include buying the equipment and hiring an electrician. Co-op members can purchase the equipment from Capital Electric for $800 to $1,000, depending on the size of the unit. The wiring may cost anywhere from $600 to $1,500, depending on the panel size and accessibility of the existing equipment.
Based on current prices, homeowners can expect to see a full return on their plenum heater investment within four years.
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For more information on plenum heaters or Capital Electric's off-peak heating programs, call Josh (left) or Doug in the member services department at (701) 223-1513. |
Once the plenum insert is operational, members will quality for one of the cooperative’s electric heat programs. The first program is dual-fuel, which requires our members to have a backup heat system during load control periods. Capital Electric’s dual-fuel rate is 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (KWH). Using a simple cost comparison, members would pay 3.5 cents per KWH for electric heat on the dual-fuel program versus 85 cents per gallon of propane, which costs approximately $1.50 per gallon. Electric heat can nearly cut your costs in half! The second program is straight electric heat, which does not require a backup system.
Capital Electric’s straight electric heat rate is 4.7 cents per KWH. That is approximately equal to paying $1.10 per gallon for propane. While not as cost-effective as the dual-fuel rate, this straight rate can still save money in comparison to current propane prices.
While prices for propane and natural gas have fluctuated significantly over the past few years, electric heat rates have remained stable and reliable. If you invest in an electric heat product, you may still use your silver bullet to heat your hot water heater, or gas stove or fireplace—but you will still save money and energy. Last month, $200 of heat on propane would have cost about $110 on off-peak electric heat. That’s a 55 percent savings!
If you dread the biannual massive propane bill, it’s time to stop heating your home with propane and start using an electric heat product. Call Josh or Doug in the member services department at Capital Electric Cooperative today at (701) 223-1513. They can help find an electric heat product that works for your lifestyle and budget.