Is a gas oven still cheaper than an electric oven?

sourpuss2021

I know that historically, gas ovens have been cheaper to run than electric.   Is that still the case?
I have an electric oven.  Would a gas-powered one be cheaper to run?

Olinda99

It is cheaper to purchase a given amount of energy (KwH) using gas then electricity.

However, other things may come into play eg insulation quality etc.

But yes, in general, gas ovens are cheaper to run than electric ones

Section62

sourpuss2021 said:

I know that historically, gas ovens have been cheaper to run than electric.   Is that still the case?
I have an electric oven.  Would a gas-powered one be cheaper to run?

Does the electric oven need replacing? If not, you'll need to do a lot of cooking to recover the cost of buying a new oven before you'd break even from the savings.

Does the location where the cooker would go have a gas connection point already?  If not you'll need to do a lot of cooking to recover the costs of installing the gas supply and cooker before you'd break even from the savings.

It might be worth considering buying a small halogen-type worktop oven (or combi microwave) if your cooking needs would suit that approach instead, but again the savings need to be worth it for the capital cost of the oven.

sourpuss2021

Thanks for your replies!

The electric oven is 6 years old and still works, so doesn't technically need replacing.   The location does have a gas connection point already, because there's a gas hob directly above it.   

The gas hob needs repairing or replacing.  Three of the four thermocouples aren't working, so the flame extinguishes the instant I take my finger off those dials.   It's a good quality hob with heavy iron grid plates, and I would rather get it repaired for about £150, rather than replace it for three times the price.

But then I got into looking at gas cookers wondering if that would be a better solution if I did choose to replace it. 

I think for now I will enquire again about getting the hob repaired.  And if they say that is not viable, then will consider the options again.

I do have a combi microwave oven as well.  I have not really used it much for its oven function but I should look into that if it's more cost effective.

Section62

sourpuss2021 said:

I do have a combi microwave oven as well.  I have not really used it much for its oven function but I should look into that if it's more cost effective.

If what you need to cook will fit in the combi then it is likely to be cheaper to operate that rather than the main oven, especially if the combi is a halogen one.  Less oven to heat up and keep hot should = lower energy consumption.

I would look into getting the hob repaired, and experiment with the combi.  Also not forgetting that energy costs are only one factor in making the choice - there's no point using a cheaper to run gas oven (or microwave/combi) if the food isn't cooked the way you like it.

Ergates

Another consideration is that most people would consider an electric oven to be superior to a gas one.   Electric ovens cook with a drier heat (as burning gas releases water vapour), which is good for roasting, and if you want a bit of moisture in the oven (e.g. for some baking) it's easy to add - whereas you can't really take it out from a gas oven.

Also, electric ovens are safer - even with the safety mechanisms in place it's possible to fill an oven with unlit gas.

markin

You need an air vent in any room with gas, so a vent blowing cold air 24/7 may wipe out much of the savings, With Electric you can then seal up all the old vents for a warmer home.

Gerry1

markin said:

You need an air vent in any room with gas, so a vent blowing cold air 24/7 may wipe out much of the savings, With Electric you can then seal up all the old vents for a warmer home.

AFAIK modern boilers are room sealed so there wouldn't be much of a draught from the vent.

Mstty

Corrected after I finished my beer

So a which article suggested pre April 2022 price cap that a gas oven used 5 hours a week would consume £17 energy a year and an electric oven used the same tim £40 a year.

As we know gas prices rose 75% in April 22 so that's £29.75 now and elec price rose 33% so that's £53.20

The article does go on to mention things such as even cooking in an electric oven and that could mean filling it up cooking multiple meals more efficiently. This could be a way of recouping the yearly cost difference.

Source used for which article

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/freestanding-cookers/article/gas-cookers-vs-electric-cookers-axJxK6t7cGGU

Source used for average price cap rises (regional.differences occur) 

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/check-if-energy-price-cap-affects-you

pochase

Mstty said:

So a which article suggested pre April 2022 price cap that a gas oven used 5 hours a week would consume £17 energy a year and an electric oven used the same tim £40 a year.

As we know gas prices rose 43% in April 22 so that's £24.31 now and elec price rose 33% so that's £53.20

The article does go on to mention things such as even cooking in an electric oven and that could mean filling it up cooking multiple meals more efficiently. This could be a way of recouping the yearly cost difference.

Source

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/freestanding-cookers/article/gas-cookers-vs-electric-cookers-axJxK6t7cGGU

You are far off with 43%. For example for the North West gas price on SVT rose from 4.04p to 7.34p, that is 81.68%.

So the new gas cost for 5 hours would be £30.77.

Electricity for the North West is also a bit higher with 39.12% increase (20.14p to 28.02p)

This is based on the tables in @Qrizb tables.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78658822/#Comment_78658822

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78957887/#Comment_78957887

Mstty

@pochase corrected and source for the average price cap for the country added👍