Gas vs. Electric Stove: Which Saves You More on Home Insurance?

Whether you have a gas or electric stove should not have a significant impact on your home insurance rates, although buying an electric stove could be one small part of making your home more eco-friendly in order to qualify for a green discount. As some cities take steps to limit the availability of gas stoves, it’s worth considering whether you should make the switch from gas to electric.

Keep reading to learn the differences between a gas versus electric stove and how they can affect energy costs and your home’s impact on the environment.

Key Takeaways Insurance companies don’t offer specific discounts for electric stoves but installing an electric stove could be one part of a broader plan to earn an eco-friendly home insurance discount. The United States has not banned gas stoves at the federal level but some cities have made it illegal to use gas appliances in new buildings. Gas stoves are generally cheaper to operate and better for cooking while electric stoves are generally safer and better for the environment. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 established rebates of up to $840 for qualifying households that purchase an electric stove. Homeowners insurance protects appliances like stoves against sudden damage from perils named in your policy while a home warranty can insure your appliances in case they stop working due to wear and tear.

Are Gas Stoves Banned in the U.S.?

There is not a widespread ban on gas stoves in the United States and the federal government has indicated that no such ban is on the horizon.^[1] However, several local governments throughout the country have passed ordinances that would make it difficult to obtain gas stoves in the future.

For example, more than 70 cities and counties in California have taken actions like phasing out gas hookups for appliances or requiring most new buildings to run solely on electricity.^[2] While it’s unlikely that anyone who already has a gas stove would be forced to give it up, these measures would restrict access to gas stoves in new homes.

Concerns about the prevalence of gas stoves are largely related to the environmental impact of natural gas and the health issues associated with gas stoves.

Recent research indicates that nearly 13% of asthma cases among children in the United States can be linked to the use of gas stoves for cooking.^[3]

What’s the Difference Between a Gas vs. Electric Stove?

The main differences between cooking with gas versus electric include their power sources, prices, maintenance requirements, safety concerns and overall usefulness for cooking.

Why Choose a Gas Stove?

Gas stoves draw their energy from gas lines to create open flames that are generally easy to control. Because gas stoves allow for more precise temperature regulation, they tend to be better for cooking than electric stoves.

In addition, gas stoves are fairly quick to turn on and off while electric stoves can take longer to heat up and cool down. As a result, there is a higher risk of getting burned by an electric stove since the surface will remain hot for longer after you have finished cooking.

Finally, gas stoves are slightly cheaper to operate than electric stoves. Assuming you use your stove one hour per day, the gas vs. electric stove monthly cost difference is about $3.50, which amounts to paying around $42 more per year on your energy bills if you have an electric stove than if you have a gas stove.^[4]

Why Choose an Electric Stove?

Electric stoves are powered by electricity that heats metal coils just beneath the surface of the cooktop. They are more widely accessible than gas stoves since 100% of U.S. homes reportedly have access to electricity as of 2020, compared to the 73% that have access to natural gas.^[5][6] Electric stoves also tend to be cheaper to install, especially if you don’t already have a natural gas line.

There is a lower risk of fire or explosion with electric stoves and no risk of a dangerous gas leak, making them safer than gas stoves overall.

In addition, electric stoves do not emit nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants like gas stoves do, making them better for the indoor air quality in your home.

Electric stoves also tend to be better for the environment since they are about 20% more energy efficient than gas stoves.^[7] Finally, electric stoves are often easier to clean because you can simply wipe off their flat surfaces rather than removing or maneuvering around the cast iron grates that come with many gas stoves.

Can I Get a Discount Based On the Stove I Buy?

Whether you purchase a gas or electric stove should not have a significant impact on your homeowners insurance rates since companies generally don’t offer home insurance discounts for either. However, an electric stove could be one small part of getting an eco-friendly home discount.

Insurers like Travelers and Farmers offer discounted rates to people whose homes have received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.^[8][9] LEED-certified homes have to rank well on factors like health and indoor environmental quality, both of which an electric stove could contribute to since it wouldn’t emit harmful gases like a gas stove could.^[10]

However, your home will also have to earn points for how it handles carbon, energy, water, waste and transportation to earn a LEED certification, which an electric stove can’t accomplish on its own.^[10] As a result, your home may need a complete overhaul to earn this kind of discount if it was not already built with LEED certification in mind.

What’s in the Inflation Reduction Act for Electric Stoves?

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 designated funds to support electrification projects, including cash rebates to help homeowners buy more energy-efficient home appliances. Through this program, you could receive up to $840 for buying an electric stove, electric cooktop, electric range or electric oven. Keep in mind that, although this money comes from the federal government, it will be distributed by your state’s Department of Energy or, if applicable, your Native American tribal government.^[11]

How Do I Qualify for a Rebate if I Buy a New Electric Stove?

To qualify for a rebate through the Inflation Reduction Act, your household must make less than 150% of the median income in your area. If you make between 80% and 150% of your area’s median income, you can receive a rebate that covers half the cost of a new stove. Meanwhile, households that make less than 80% of the area median income can receive a rebate that covers the full cost of a new stove as long as it costs $840 or less.^[11]

The Inflation Reduction Act also established rebates of varying amounts for HVAC systems, water heaters, electrical wiring and more. However, you cannot receive more than $14,000 in total through the Act’s high-efficiency electric home rebate program. In addition, you won’t be eligible for this program if you have already received a separate federal rebate for your electric stove.^[11]

Do Induction Ranges Qualify?

Any type of electric stove can qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act rebate program. Since induction ranges use electromagnetic radiation, they are eligible for rebates from the federal government. However, induction ranges tend to be more expensive than other electric stoves, so your rebate may not be enough to cover the full price of a new range.

How To Get Insurance for Your Home Appliances

The personal property coverage portion of your homeowners insurance policy only covers appliances in your home if they are damaged suddenly and unexpectedly by one of the following 16 named perils.

Fire or lightning	Windstorm or hail
Smoke	Volcanic eruption
Explosion	Riot or civil commotion
Vandalism or malicious mischief	Theft
Damage by vehicles	Damage by aircraft
Falling objects	Weight of ice, sleet or snow
Sudden/accidental power surges	Freezing of home systems
Sudden/accidental tearing, cracking, burning or bulging of home systems	Water/steam discharge from home systems and appliances

Meanwhile, you could purchase an equipment breakdown coverage endorsement to cover your stove and other appliances in case they experience a sudden electrical or mechanical breakdown. Finally, a home warranty can pay to repair or replace appliances that stop functioning due to wear and tear for a set period of time, usually lasting one year.