Switching from a traditional gas range to a modern induction cooktop is one of the most exciting upgrades you can make when electrifying your home. Induction cooktops boil water faster, offer precise temperature control, and eliminate harmful indoor air pollution. But does the switch actually save you money?

The Gas-to-Solar Induction Savings Calculator compares the physics and costs of cooking with gas versus cooking with electricity generated by your own home solar array.

How the Calculator Works

This tool uses thermodynamic equivalents to show you your true cooking costs:

• The Efficiency Gap: Traditional gas stoves are wildly inefficient. Only about 40% of the thermal energy actually transfers into your food—the rest escapes as wasted ambient heat. Induction uses electromagnetism to heat your pots directly, achieving a massive 85% to 90% thermal efficiency.
• Fuel Conversion: The calculator figures out how much actual heat you need for your daily cooking time. It then prices out the cost to generate that heat using your utility’s gas rate versus your solar system’s Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE).
• The “Gas Cap” Bonus: We’ve included a toggle for “Eliminating the Gas Meter.” Because cooking alone uses a relatively small amount of energy, the biggest financial savings occur when your induction stove allows you to disconnect from the gas grid entirely, instantly eliminating the mandatory monthly connection fees!

How to Use This Tool

Follow these simple steps to estimate your induction ROI:

1. Set Your Cooking Habits: Use the slider to estimate how many hours per day the stove or oven is actively running.
2. Input Gas Costs: Enter your current utility rate for natural gas ($ per therm).
3. Decide on the Meter: If switching to induction means you no longer have any gas appliances in the house (like a furnace or water heater), select “Yes” to eliminating the meter, and enter what your utility company currently charges you for your monthly base fee.
4. Input Solar & Upgrade Costs: Enter your estimated solar cost per kWh, the cost of the induction stove you want to buy, and any rebates you qualify for (like the IRA’s HEEHRA program).
5. Review Your Payback Period: Check the dashboard to see your annual savings and exactly how many years it will take for your new stove to pay for itself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does an induction cooktop use a lot of electricity?

No. While an induction cooktop can draw a high amount of power in short bursts (like when boiling water), it cooks food so quickly and efficiently that its overall energy consumption is very low. A household that cooks for one hour a day typically uses less than 600 kWh per year on an induction range—about the same as a large refrigerator.

Can solar panels power an induction stove?

Absolutely. Because induction ranges use electricity, they can be powered entirely by your home solar panels. If you cook during the day, the power comes straight from the sun. If you cook at night, the stove will draw from the grid (using your net metering credits) or from your home battery storage system.

What is the HEEHRA rebate for electric stoves?

The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA), part of the Inflation Reduction Act, provides upfront point-of-sale rebates for low-to-moderate-income households electrifying their homes. Under this program, qualifying households can receive a rebate of up to $840 toward the purchase of an electric induction cooktop or range.

Why does capping my gas meter save me so much money?

Utility companies charge a mandatory “base fee” or “connection fee” just for having an active gas meter attached to your house—even if you don’t use a single drop of gas that month. This fee is often $15 to $25 a month. If you switch to an induction stove and a heat pump, you can legally disconnect from the gas company, instantly saving $180 to $300 a year in base fees alone.