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For decades natural gas has been the home energy source of choice. With a reputation for being cheap and clean burning, it has lead the way.But the detail remains that the cost of how electric and gas compare can depend on where you live. California and the Northeast are among the states with the highest electric rates, while scattered middle states are among the lowest. DOE data shows that east coast states are among the highest in gas prices. But that is not the whole picture, rates will vary even within states. Making sense of this can be important to you. DOE 2006 figures show that electric prices varied from about $0.06 per kilowatt hour to more than twice that amount. Natural gas was priced as low as $10 per 1000 cubic feet to almost twice that figure, in some parts of the country. Since these figures were released it appears that gas prices have risen over 30 percent, while electric has remained about the same. This has been the trend over the past decade. You can find these numbers at www.doe.gov. Use these numbers to compare: There is also the added factor of energy efficiency. Electric tankless heaters are said to be 99 percent energy efficient, while natural gas usually measures in at between 80-85 percent.
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