[gonzy]

Basically you get the same amount of heat from natural gas as a gallon of oil for $1.84 vs $4.00 for oil. Using a heat pump at around 50 Deg F you can get the same amount of heat for $1.10. If you use your heat pump in the aux. mode i.e. with the electric elements providing the heat your cost is $3.49 for the same amount of heat as a gallon of fuel oil at $4.00/gal. Generally your heat pump is unable to extract heat from the air when the outside temperature gets below 37 deg. F it then provides heat using the aux. heating elements. In the northeast where electric rates are higher oil would have to be priced at $5.23/gal for electric heat to be the same cost as oil. This was the info I was looking for for my aunt to see at what point it would be cheaper for her to use an electric space heater vs oil burner. Sorry about the chart it didn't import very well from excel.