pros & cons: gas v's electric

chris1973

I've rented a variety of properties over the years, some with storage heaters and some with GCH. I have to admit 100% that the properties with GCH win hands down, not only for flexibility but also for the fact that they were, on a like for like basis far more comfortable especially later on in the evening and also cheaper to run.

I'm currently in a 1 bedroom property with 3 Storage heaters which on average consume 50 - 55 units of Electricity to heat every night. At 5.3p per unit this costs roughly £2.91 per night to run, multiply that by 30 and you have an approximate cost of £87.45 to run per month. I dont think I ever spent £60 a month on gas, even in a 2 / 3 bedroom property and it always seemed far warmer.

Think about it, if E7 was the way forward and as cheap and economical as many make it out to be, then GCH would now be the Betamax of heating and everybody would be fitting storage heating. In reality, E7 has now been resigned largely to rented properties or properties in areas which have no natural mains gas supply

Many people quote the difference between E7 Electricity and Gas tariff's as being 'small' and it is effectively 3.8p (Gas) compared to 5.3p (Electricity) however what they fail to mention is that if you want to stay up to watch the Midnight movie, then chances are you'll be freezing cold, requiring additional heat at premium rates of around 14p - 18p per KW/H - whilst gas remains the same price 24/7, and there is a big difference, when that comparison is made.