Gas Water Heaters Vs. Electric Water Heaters

Given a level playing filed---which in this case means a supply
of natural gas as well as electricity to your house---the
competition between electricity and gas is very one-sided.
The cost of producing a gallon of hot water is so much
cheaper with gas---whether natural or propane---than it is
with electricity that if you have the choice you should always
choose gas.
Can You Choose Gas?
If you don't have natural gas in your house, a natural gas
heater is obviously not an option---but a propane one is,
particularly if you are using it already for heating and/or
cooking. What's more, the savings on either fuel compared
with electricity are so great that unless your heater is going to
receive only light and occasional use, it will be worth your
while to pay to have existing natural gas or propane lines
extended to reach the heater.
Speed of Heating
Gas is a much faster means of heating water than electricity.
This means that, size for size, a gas heater is capable of
producing more hot water more quickly than an electric
heater.
Purchase and Running Costs
Electric water heaters are slightly cheaper than gas ones, but
natural gas is typically about half as expensive as electricity as
a fuel for heating water, and propane is also much cheaper.
Your maintenance costs are potentially somewhat higher for
gas, since you will need to have a professional to do it,
whereas it is possible to carry out routine maintenance on an
electric water heater yourself. Overall, though, the difference
in the actual cost of heating water is so great that gas wins
every time.