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- cross-posted to:
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[Under current law] gas companies must provide free hookups to new customers within 100 feet of the pipe system. Existing ratepayers subsidize the work.
Getting rid of the so-called 100-foot rule would save ratepayers about $200 million annually and encourage utilities and new customers to explore other energy options.
Beyond what’s in the NYT article, part of the campaign is asking people to call their state legislators and Gov. Hochul. If you’re in New York State, this tool will walk you through connecting to the right offices and leaving a message.
Could the grid handle everyone turning on their heatstrips? that’s a huge change in demand. When mine turn on i see my energy consumption jump from 3kw to 10kw.
Would more natural gas generators need to be built?
Is it more efficient at heating? Converting gas to electricity has losses, and using resistive heat is very inefficient. I don’t think it’s any less efficient than in-home gas heat. gas generation might be regulated better for pollution control though.
Heat strips are really only needed during defrost cycle and so a compressor failure doesn’t freeze the occupant to death in their sleep. Modern cold-climate heat pumps retain their capacity down to 0F
What about sub zero?
https://www.mitsubishicomfort.com/blog/mythbusters-heat-pumps-for-extreme-cold-climates#:~:text=Hyper-heating systems can perform,low as -5° F.
Converting gas to electricity has losses, but the 300-400% efficiency of heat pumps more than makes up for it. Also, resistive heat is 100% efficient, while natural gas furnaces are only 90-95% efficient. So even resistive heat would be more efficient.
As for demand, that needs to be solved at a grid level. Though I haven’t had my heat strips turn on all winter.
To be clear, I’m advocating heat pumps with gas only for extreme temperatures until the grid can handle heat strips, while at the same time increasing the cost of using gas over time to apply incentive/pressure to use electric. I don’t think it’s reasonable to ban gas outright, and the amount of political resistance would make it a futile effort.
Another consideration is during an extreme storm that results in power outages, no backup generator will be able to keep up with heat strips. Gas would be fine. I personally have a fireplace and keep wood for emergency use.
Most people - myself included - don’t have a generator or even space for one.
And this isn’t banning gas outright. It’s just increasing the hookup fee. So if you still feel you need gas for whatever reason you can get it, you just gotta pay for it.