I went to the Ontario Hydro calculator to look at switching from oil heating to electric (natural gas not available here). This calculator says that I can save about $400 per year by switching. I have much doubt about this. Has anyone actually done this switch? Do you believe this?
Edit: some more info I should have provided:
First of all, I believe this would be for a forced air electric furnace. This should easily swap in for my oil furnace, I would just have to add a 220 line.
I live in central Ontario. I don’t have or need/want air conditioning, so there is nothing to save there.
I am not sure about a heat pump for my case, since it would not be used in the summer and they become less efficient as it gets colder. I am not sure I can rely on a heat pump as my only heating source.
Between electric heating, electric water heaters, electric car chargers, electric stoves and dryers… 200a won’t be enough
Not true, this is common where I live and 200A is fine.
Lol. I (Quebecer) have 200a panel, electric resistive heating (in every room including a detached garage, no central AHU) + mini-split heat pump + electric car charger + electric water heater and my power demand never go above 15 kW (which equates to ~ 62 Amps).
Even with the most generous assumptions (120V@200A=24kW instead of 240V which is double)… You could be running all of these at maximum rated loads simultaneously and still not trip your main breaker/fuse. Typical midrange residential unit values below:
Total is 23.8kW which is 198.3A@120V.