I'm Going to Try Natural Gas This Winter

DOUG · Post by **DOUG** » Wed. Nov. 02, 2011 5:59 pm

Yes, I think your calculations are correct. With the anthracite coal price increase, natural gas is becoming more attractive. I still plan on burning anthracite coal, but only in the few weeks of really cold weather, just because the comfort level of anthracite coal is hard to beat. But if the price difference between anthracite coal and natural gas gets much wider, I'll be stock piling more wood. I can't believe how much anthracite coal has increased since I started burning it a few years ago. I love anthracite, but I'm now getting concerned that it may not be an economical option in the future. I may have to use natural gas and wood to save money on home heating costs. Who would have belived that I would be even saying this. Wake me up from this bad dream!

Sting · Post by **Sting** » Wed. Nov. 02, 2011 6:17 pm

I am on NG this year and maybe for years to come

Had enough of this solid fuel drama

and my NG is 75cents a therm today

CoalUserWannabe · Post by **CoalUserWannabe** » Wed. Nov. 02, 2011 6:49 pm

My buddy was talking about getting some contraption to liquify natural gas, then use it in your car, not a bad idea it's something worth considering, I thought he was nuts, and such a thing does not exist, but apparently you can get these things for small usage as well, run them at night to produce few gallons for daytime use. at 75 cents a therm, that's equivalent to about 1.00 Dollar to 1.25 dollars for a gallon of gas, not a bad deal !

I'll drink for that

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Wed. Nov. 02, 2011 6:54 pm

It seems that with the big time emergence fracking there is suddenly plenty of NG and therefore the cost is way down. That's no consolation in my case though, since there is no NG available on my street, so I went with coal instead. At these levels of cost for NG, if you have access to it, it certainly makes good economic sense to go for it.

Sting · Post by **Sting** » Wed. Nov. 02, 2011 6:57 pm

CoalUserWannabe wrote:My buddy was talking about getting some contraption to liquify natural gas, then use it in your car, not a bad idea it's something worth considering, I thought he was nuts, and such a thing does not exist, but apparently you can get these things for small usage as well, run them at night to produce few gallons for daytime use. at 75 cents a therm, that's equivalent to about 1.00 Dollar to 1.25 dollars for a gallon of gas, not a bad deal !

I'll drink for that

You don't liquefy it -- you compress it for motor fuel -- just like Propane motor fuel - but like all things there is a catch - you still need to pay the road tax + the equipment isn't cheep.

leowis1 · Post by **leowis1** » Wed. Nov. 02, 2011 7:58 pm

This is indeed amazing. I installed my EFM520 the winter after Katrina. I remember NG costing around $1.65 Ccf. And coal was $172 per ton. It was a no brainer to heat with coal. Fracking is a good thing for us coal burners. It'll force the mines to drop their price to $110 per ton. There's no way they can compete with .89cents a Ccf.

Post by **Richard S.** » Wed. Nov. 02, 2011 11:16 pm

leowis1 wrote:. Natural gas cost me $8.89 per Ccf

The number you are looking at is 88.9 cents per 100 cubic foot. You can use therms or Mcf with calculator, to convert Ccf to Mcf you need to multiply by 10 so that would give you the $8.89 per Mcf(not Ccf). Using that number you'd be saving money once the coal is above $205. That assumes both are 80% efficient and of course doesn't include any other costs there might be.

RAYJAY · Post by **RAYJAY** » Thu. Nov. 03, 2011 1:54 am

also figure into your cost keeping the house as warm as you do with the coal... I know we do the 67 to 68 deg on NG on the coal its at 71 to 72 and the coal heat is just so much better

steamup · Post by **steamup** » Thu. Nov. 03, 2011 8:07 am

Natural gas is a bargin right now. With the new wells being drilled and the push on energy efficiency, the price is very reasonable. That is all right, coal can still be cheaper for some. If everyone jumps to coal, then it will go way up also.

I for one, do not have the option for natural gas. Only fuel oil, propane, wood or coal. Right now, coal is the best bargin for me.

steamup · Post by **steamup** » Thu. Nov. 03, 2011 8:13 am

Just a note, when you figure you cost of natural gas, look at the bottom line and divide by you usage. The bill is usually divied up into natural gas cost and transportation cost. Then they add taxes, fees, etc. Bottom line is based on usage also. Big users get the gas cheaper after a minimum amount is many cases. Average it all together for a true cost.

Granted, you will still have the minimum bill regardless of usage.

ScubaSteve · Post by **ScubaSteve** » Thu. Nov. 03, 2011 9:59 pm

DOUG wrote:Yes, I think your calculations are correct. With the anthracite coal price increase, natural gas is becoming more attractive. I still plan on burning anthracite coal, but only in the few weeks of really cold weather, just because the comfort level of anthracite coal is hard to beat. But if the price difference between anthracite coal and natural gas gets much wider, I'll be stock piling more wood. I can't believe how much anthracite coal has increased since I started burning it a few years ago. I love anthracite, but I'm now getting concerned that it may not be an economical option in the future. I may have to use natural gas and wood to save money on home heating costs. Who would have belived that I would be even saying this. Wake me up from this bad dream!

I couldnt agree with you more. What is the deal with all the price increases. in 2007 I paid 145 a ton delivered in Southern NJ. Now? 295 a ton delivered after shopping around. some places were 305 to 325 a ton. Why does it seem every year we are being nickled and dimed to death!!!

wilder11354 · Post by **wilder11354** » Thu. Nov. 03, 2011 10:19 pm

don't hold high hopes for lower NG prices for too long. Its going to be going overseas.

**Broken Link(s) Removed**

wilder11354 · Post by **wilder11354** » Thu. Nov. 03, 2011 10:22 pm

of course... the prices will go up to meet world demand, and what its value is overseas compared to here.

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 11:45 am

$1.54 per therm including the dist charge...
The gas itself is cheap less than $0.70 per therm...
The other fees need to be added in to give a true picture of your costs...
My coal costs are low due to the SSM...

leowis1 · Post by **leowis1** » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 11:58 am

I think the cost of my ng is .45 per Ccf. The cost of everything combined is .89cents. Using the BTU calculator back a few posts, this cost results in a 18% savings over coal ($242 per ton). Its a no brainer for me.