Electricity prices have gone up due to datacenters as well as neglected grid infrastructure needing investment. Natural gas prices are going up because of LNG export infrastructure causing US consumers to compete against global LNG consumers for fuel to heat, as well as domestic electrical generation demand. Pick your poison.
Electricity prices might come down over time (renewables push down generation costs), natural gas prices won’t due to global demand for it.
melling•1h ago
What happened to cheap home solar with batteries?
onlyhumans•1h ago
You don’t really make that much electricity in the winter when you need the heat
zeroping•47m ago
I picked a random spot in New York state. It looks like the solar generation in January is about 68% of July. As solar keeps getting cheaper, one option is to just install more solar.
Don't get me wrong, there are still issues here, like snow or back-to-back-to-back cloudy days. But the rate of a price change for solar has been pretty dramatic.
abracadaniel•1h ago
Installation costs dominate the price. I check every few years, and while the hardware is down to about $5k for me, cost for installation remained $45k-$50k. Which is where it’s been for years. Makes diy very attractive though.
tapoxi•41m ago
How big is that system? Without incentives mine was half that for 8kw.
SilverElfin•41m ago
I haven’t paid attention to the change in my utility prices but my natural gas furnace is much cheaper for heating than my electric heat pump (I have both and my thermostat can pick). I believe our local electricity is almost fully from renewables already.
atlgator•51m ago
Do we though? I've had both and I much prefer natural gas.
zippyman55•28m ago
I'm a big natural gas guy (for cooking) with property in Coastal California. But, I think getting off gas may be the way to go. My utility bill requires a gas transport fee, and looking at it, when I am absent, I'm spending $120+/month for a pilot light and an idle water heater. Electricity would offer a cheaper way to shut off the usage while gone, and to avoid the excessive gas fees.
So, I'd consider a electric water heater, electric stove, and then I have to resolve the heating issue, but climate is mild where I live.
gib444•17m ago
Ramping up idle fees is how they will force the holdouts onto electricity. $120/mo is insane. We pay about $15/mo but I can certainly see it going up
viraptor•16m ago
What do you mean by prefer? Is it more economical in your location? (Where?) Or...?
toomuchtodo•1h ago
Electricity prices might come down over time (renewables push down generation costs), natural gas prices won’t due to global demand for it.
melling•1h ago
onlyhumans•1h ago
zeroping•47m ago
Don't get me wrong, there are still issues here, like snow or back-to-back-to-back cloudy days. But the rate of a price change for solar has been pretty dramatic.
abracadaniel•1h ago
tapoxi•41m ago
SilverElfin•41m ago