It’s no surprise that Pennsylvanians who heat their home with oil or propane may be thinking of converting to natural gas—or even electric heat—to escape the stress of paying giant heating fuel delivery bills next winter. That’s a valid worry, especially if we don’t see relief soon from today’s high
fuel prices.
But the problem of high energy prices is not limited to heating oil and propane. Natural gas rates have doubled, and electricity costs are surging. And everyone is feeling the pain at the gas pump. If history is a guide, we can expect to see heating oil and propane prices drop pretty significantly in the not-too-distant future.
It’s also important to remember that the upfront cost to convert from heating oil to natural gas (or propane to electric heat) can often reach thousands of dollars. It would take years, if ever, to recoup that cost in home energy savings, especially now, with both natural gas and electric rates rocketing upward.