Yearly Energy Costs
Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy publishes their average representative costs for five residential energy sources--electricity, natural gas, heating oil, propane, and kerosene. This annual survey of prices, mandated by the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, compares each source of energy equally in terms of energy released with equvalent costs.
The representative average costs for electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, and propane are based on the statistical methodology used to produce the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) "Short Term Energy Outlook" monthly report. The 2007 statistics are based on EIA's January 2007 "Short-Term Energy Outlook."
If you currently heat your home or business with electricity or heating oil, you may want to check out propane gas. In many ways, you can't beat the savings or the quality of the heat!
2007 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, March 21, 2007. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
10.65 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$31.21 |
| Natural Gas |
$1.218 / therm (100,000 Btu) or $12.53 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
12.18 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$2.22 / gallon |
16.01 |
| Propane |
$1.87 / gallon |
20.47 |
| Kerosene |
$2.63 / gallon |
19.48 |
2006 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, February 27, 2006. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
9.81 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$28.75 |
| Natural Gas |
$1.415 / therm (100,000 Btu) or $14.57 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
14.15 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$2.27 / gallon |
16.37 |
| Propane |
$1.95 / gallon |
21.35 |
| Kerosene |
$2.74 / gallon |
20.30 |
2005 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, March 11, 2005. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
9.06 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$26.55 |
| Natural Gas |
$1.09 / therm (100,000 Btu) or $11.23 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
10.92 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$1.76 / gallon |
12.68 |
| Propane |
$1.55 / gallon |
16.94 |
| Kerosene |
$2.20 / gallon |
16.32 |
2004 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, January 27, 2004. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
8.60 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$25.20 |
| Natural Gas |
91.0 cents / therm (100,000 Btu) or $9.35 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
9.10 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$1.28 / gallon |
9.23 |
| Propane |
$1.23 / gallon |
13.46 |
| Kerosene |
$1.54 / gallon |
11.41 |
2003 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, April 9, 2003. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
8.41 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$24.65 |
| Natural Gas |
81.6 cents / therm (100,000 Btu) or $8.37 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
8.16 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$1.22 / gallon |
8.80 |
| Propane |
$1.21 / gallon |
13.25 |
| Kerosene |
$1.43 / gallon |
10.59 |
2002 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, April 24, 2002. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
8.28 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$24.27 |
| Natural Gas |
65.6 cents / therm (100,000 Btu) or $6.74 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
6.56 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$1.08 / gallon |
7.79 |
| Propane |
$0.87 / gallon |
9.53 |
| Kerosene |
$1.23 / gallon |
9.11 |
2001 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, March 8, 2001. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
8.29 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$24.30 |
| Natural Gas |
83.7 cents / therm (100,000 Btu) or $8.63 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
8.37 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$1.23 / gallon |
8.86 |
| Propane |
$1.03 / gallon |
11.28 |
| Kerosene |
$1.27 / gallon |
9.41 |
2000 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, February 7, 2000. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
8.03 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$23.53 |
| Natural Gas |
68.8 cents / therm (100,000 Btu) or $7.07 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
6.88 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$1.09 / gallon |
7.86 |
| Propane |
$0.92 / gallon |
10.07 |
| Kerosene |
$1.14 / gallon |
8.44 |
1999 Representative Energy Costs
As published in the Federal Register, January 5, 1999. |
| Energy Source |
Cost in common unit of measure |
Cost per million Btu |
| Electricity |
8.22 cents / KWh (kilowatt hour) |
$24.09 |
| Natural Gas |
68.8 cents / therm (100,000 Btu) or $7.07 / MCF (1,000 cubic ft.) |
6.88 |
| No. 2 heating oil |
$0.89 / gallon |
6.42 |
| Propane |
$0.77 / gallon |
8.43 |
| Kerosene |
$1.04 / gallon |
7.70 |
