Kentucky coal

For those of you with cheap natural gas consider the small co-generation products now becoming available in the US. A natural gas powered Honda engine turns an alternator that produces electricity. Waste heat is captured and becomes the furnace that heats your home. I don't know the capital investment required but it might make sense, especially if you get some tax credits. See: http://www.climate-energy.com/products.asp

However, if your electric rates are also low because the utility uses the same cheap natural gas to make electricity it's unlikely to be cost effective.

I looked at your link and I don't think that it would be worth it for me to buy the generator. My electric in the winter only runs about $100. that is with the blower running non stop on my wood funace. There are fuel cells for natural gas that operate in the high 90% range but they are very expensive. The price of nat gas is also so volitile that it would be very risky to put all of your money on it. My dad has a deal called power command thru ohio edison. You only pay $.02 per kwh in the winter for an all electric house and his budget is less than mine would be even though I have nat gas, water heat , heat and a gas stove. They don't offer it any more and he is just hoping thay don't pull the plan. If the gas prices continue on their current trend I will prolly go back to anthracite. It is the best solid fuel hands down, just not always the most economical.

Wow that's cheap electric! Here it's $.10303 supply charge, plus $.02275 distribution charge, plus a fixed $7.50 a month, plus some taxes. The supply charge is going up 50% June 1. Grand total will be about $.178 per Kw hr. As in other states, electric deregulation has not brought lower prices, but much high ones and huge profits for the companies that own the power plants. Any attempts to lower costs will take political muscle by the state legislature to oppose the utility lobby, years of new power plant permit applications and a decade of construction.

My uncle worked for Ohio Edison and he was against deregulation when they were talking about doing it. He was right it didn't save anyone any money. It has also allowed the companys to fall behind on new generation plants and maint on current facilitys. It is in there best interest to fall behind on building new plants because they will be able to charge more for there services when there is a shortage. Just like the refinerys that make gasoline. Even with the record profits they are makeing they are doing nothing to increase capacity. If they did it would drive the price of gas down and they would "lose money".

Bluecamaro where are you buying the cheap kentucky coal? its over $200 a ton in canton for kentucky bituminous self pickup.