All-Electric vs. Mixed-Fuel Home Cost
This is the highest-level electrification question: should the home end up fully electric, or is a mixed-fuel setup, keeping some gas appliances, the more economical destination. Every other engine in this cluster answers a piece of this question; this one compares the two end states directly.
At your inputs, staying mixed-fuel costs $7,000 less over 10 years.
| Go fully all-electric total cost over the horizon | $44,000 |
|---|---|
| Stay mixed-fuel (keep some gas appliances) total cost over the horizon | $37,000 |
Breakeven: The higher upfront cost is offset by year 24.0, after which going fully all-electric stays cheaper.
- This uses planning estimates you entered, not a contractor quote or guaranteed savings.
- A lower calculated cost does not measure the value of keeping gas as a backup fuel source; weigh that separately.
What this also tells you: Even if your annual costs are 20% higher or lower than entered, the same option stays cheaper, with the advantage ranging from $8,000 to $6,000.
This is a planning estimate based on your entries. It does not size equipment, determine electrical or building-code compliance, verify incentive eligibility, or replace a contractor quote or professional energy audit.
Why this decision comes up
Partway through an electrification project, many homeowners reach a genuine fork: finish the job and go fully electric, or stop short and keep one or two gas appliances that are relatively cheap to run. This tool compares those two destinations directly.
How this is calculated
Both end states are compared as total cost over your ownership horizon: net cost of whatever remains to be done, plus annual cost, carried forward. Your all-electric annual cost should reflect having removed the fixed gas fee if you have converted every appliance; your mixed-fuel annual cost should reflect keeping that fee.
A worked example
With the defaults (all-electric: $18,000 remaining net cost, $2,600/year; mixed-fuel: $6,000 remaining net cost, $3,100/year; 10-year horizon), mixed-fuel totals $37,000 against $44,000 for going fully electric, a real advantage for stopping short at these defaults, driven by the large remaining cost to finish the job.
Common mistakes
A common mistake is comparing the cost of finishing the job against the cost of doing nothing further, rather than against the honest ongoing cost of staying mixed-fuel, including the fixed gas fee that persists as long as any gas appliance remains.
Limitations
This does not value the non-financial case for full electrification some homeowners weigh, such as removing combustion appliances from the home entirely. It only compares dollar cost.
Common questions
Why would staying mixed-fuel ever be cheaper?
If your remaining gas appliances are relatively cheap to run and going fully electric would require a costly panel upgrade or other infrastructure work, the last mile of electrification can have a longer payback than the earlier conversions.
Does going all-electric always mean I save the gas fixed fee?
Only once every gas appliance is removed. Enter your all-electric annual cost with that fee already excluded, and use the gas service removal payback tool separately if you want to isolate that specific step.
Is this the same as the electrification sequencing tool?
No. Sequencing compares which single project to do first. This tool compares the two possible end states of the whole project: fully electric versus keeping some gas.
What if my remaining gas appliance is already close to failing?
If it is likely to need replacement soon regardless, that changes the true marginal cost of finishing electrification. Compare against a normal replacement cost for that appliance, not a full early-conversion cost, since you would be paying for new equipment either way.
Does this factor in resale value differences between an all-electric and a mixed-fuel home?
No. Buyer preferences for gas versus all-electric homes vary by market, and this tool only compares your own ownership-period cost, not resale value.