Benefits of Natural Gas
Choosing natural gas for your home offers valuable benefits, for your budget, for your comfort, and for the environment.
Energy Cost Savings
Natural gas generally costs about 20 percent to 50 percent less than the equivalent amount of electricity, oil, or propane. Even with fluctuating energy prices, natural gas remains the least expensive and most convenient way to heat homes over electricity, oil, and propane.
Comfort & Convenience
Natural gas is quick and responsive. You can enjoy lots of hot water since natural gas water heaters can heat water twice as fast as electric water tanks.
Compared to heat pumps, a natural gas furnace delivers lots of warm air through the registers, while a heat pump tends to deliver air that is cooler than your skin and therefore can feel a little cool.
Natural gas cooking (ranges and barbecues) is very popular with cooks and provides instant on and instant off with unlimited temperature control with the turn of a knob.
Natural gas is always there because it is delivered safely through an efficient underground distribution system. You don't have to worry about fuel deliveries and ordering, and you pay for gas after you have used it instead of when you take delivery like with wood, oil and propane.
Even during major power outages, natural gas ranges, water heaters and fireplaces will continue to work. For safety information about natural gas service and appliances during major power outages and other emergencies, visit our Emergency Preparedness pages under Safety & Reliability on PSE.com
Better for the Environment
Natural gas is a clean burning fuel – one of the cleanest energy sources available. It is less harmful to the air and environment than oil, wood and electricity produced from a fossil fuel.
Compared to oil stored in an underground tank, you don't have to worry about a leak that can contaminate the ground.
Using gas directly in efficient appliances and heating equipment is a great use of a valuable resource. Compared to electricity produced by burning natural gas (like much of the newer electric generation) less gas is consumed and fewer hydrocarbons and particulate enter the atmosphere from burning gas directly in your appliances. For more information about natural gas as an energy supply, visit our Natural Gas Overview under Energy & Environment on PSE.com.