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To use
this helpful fuel price comparison tool, you will need your
last energy bill. First, find the type of fuel you use in
the leftmost column, titled Fuel Type. Then,
using your last energy bill, enter the bill total into Bill
Total box in the correct row.
Then
look for the total number of units of fuel you used.
The example below shows a sample bill for Gas, which is measured
in Therms. For this example, we would enter 19 into the box
marked Therms. Oil is measured in gallons, as is Propane.
If you use electricity, you'll need to enter the quantity
of kilowatt-hours (KWH) used. Gas users please note:
Do not use the rate quoted per Therm. This is irrelevant.
The real cost of gas heat is measured to include all
service charges, etc. That is why you enter the total amount
billed, and the total Therms used, to get an accurate rating.
Finally,
enter the approximate efficiency of your furnace, as a percentage.
There's no need to use the % sign, however; just enter in
the number. If you don't know your furnace's efficiency, just
use 75, and it will still help you compare the different fuels
against each other.
When you
have finished, click "Calculate" to see your cost in dollars
per kilowatt-hour appear in the rightmost column, titled Real
Cost. The higher the number, the more
expensive the energy source is at this time.
To compare
this fuel with a different fuel, simply fill out another row
in the form and click "Calculate" and compare the two costs.
You can compare as many different fuels as you like, and you
can change the numbers and then click "Calculate" again to
get a new total. Or, you can compare your current furnace
to a new furnace by changing the efficiency rating.
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