Gas or electricity: which way will the U. S. go

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Pipe Line Ind.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7322776

Harral, J K.A.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. made a study to compare cost and efficiency of gas and electric energy for kitchen ranges, clothes dryers, water heaters, and space heaters. The results of the study show gas--whether natural, SNG, or LNG--has considerable advantages over electricity. For PG and E's existing system, appliances using natural gas result in higher over-all thermal efficiencies and are cheaper to operate than similar electric appliances. When substitute natural gas (SNG) from coal is compared with electricity also produced from coal, the advantage still lies with gas usage. SNG provides a more efficient energy form and is less costly than electricity. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) has a higher over-all thermal efficiency and can be less costly than SNG from coal. LNG, therefore, may be even more attractive than SNG from coal when compared with electricity. In addition to the cost and efficiency advantages, the capital investment required to produce and deliver a unit of energy in the form of SNG from coal or LNG from remote natural gas sources is much less than required for electricity from coal. (MCW)

• Research Organization: Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 7322776
• Journal Information: Pipe Line Ind.; (United States), Journal Name: Pipe Line Ind.; (United States) Vol. 45:3; ISSN PLINA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030600* -- Natural Gas-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200106 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Economics
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
CLOTHING
DRYERS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS APPLIANCES
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEATERS
HEATING
HIGH BTU GAS
HOUSES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SPACE HEATING
STOVES
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
USA
WATER HEATERS