Induction vs. Gas Stove: Which Costs Less to Cook With on PG&E? (2026 Rates)

On PG&E's 2026 rates, cooking on induction usually costs a little more than cooking on gas, not less. That's true even though induction puts nearly three times as much of its energy into the pan. Per unit of energy, PG&E electricity costs roughly three to four and a half times as much as PG&E gas. For a typical household, the gap works out to a few dollars a month either way. So the real reasons to switch are speed, safety, and indoor air quality, plus the chance to drop your gas bill entirely if the stove is your last gas appliance.

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Key facts

• Efficiency: ENERGY STAR says induction cooktops transfer about 85% of their energy to the cookware, versus about 32% for gas and 75-80% for standard electric cooktops. Source: ENERGY STAR, Residential Induction Cooking Tops. The U.S. Department of Energy says induction is "up to three times more efficient than gas stoves" (energy.gov).
• PG&E gas (Schedule G-1), effective October 1, 2026: $2.42480 per therm within your baseline and $2.92792 per therm above it. On top of that comes a residential Public Purpose Program surcharge of $0.12103 per therm (non-CARE). All-in, that's $2.54583 and $3.04895 per therm. Sources: PG&E Schedule G-1 and Schedule G-PPPS. The gas procurement part of the rate changes monthly, so check the current sheet.
• PG&E electricity, winter (October-May), bundled rates effective June 1, 2026: E-TOU-C is $0.39757/kWh at peak (4-9 p.m.) and $0.36757/kWh off-peak, with a $0.08140/kWh credit on baseline usage (Schedule E-TOU-C). E-1 is $0.32561 in Tier 1 and $0.40702 in Tier 2 (Schedule E-1).
• Energy units: 1 therm = 100,000 Btu and 1 kWh = 3,412 Btu, so one therm holds about 29.3 kWh worth of energy. Source: U.S. EIA.

The cost of heat that actually reaches the pan

Cooking cost depends on two things: what you pay per unit of energy, and how much of that energy ends up in the food. Here's both combined, per kWh of heat delivered to the pan. Gas is figured at 32% efficiency and induction at 85%, using the ENERGY STAR figures above.

Gas comes out ahead in every row. The closest matchup is gas above baseline ($0.33) against induction on E-TOU-C off-peak within baseline ($0.34). Dinner usually falls in the 4-9 p.m. peak, though. At the peak rate above baseline, induction costs roughly 40-75% more per unit of heat than gas.

These are bundled PG&E rates. If MCE, EBCE, SJCE, or another community choice aggregator supplies your electricity, your per-kWh total will be a bit different; see Community Choice Aggregation Explained.

Per hour and per month, in dollars

One hour at full power. A portable induction burner such as the Duxtop 9600LS runs at up to 1,800 watts. An hour at full power uses 1.8 kWh. Getting the same heat into the pan with gas takes about 0.163 therms (1.8 × 0.85 ÷ 0.32 ÷ 29.3).

• Induction on E-TOU-C winter peak, above baseline: 1.8 × $0.39757 = $0.72
• Induction on E-TOU-C winter off-peak, within baseline: 1.8 × $0.28617 = $0.52
• Gas, above baseline: 0.163 × $3.04895 = $0.50
• Gas, within baseline: 0.163 × $2.54583 = $0.42

A sample month. Say your burners use the equivalent of 0.9 kWh of induction electricity a day, about 45 minutes at an average of 1,200 watts, or 27 kWh a month. This is an illustration of the math, not a measurement of a typical home.

• Induction at the E-TOU-C winter peak rate, above baseline: 27 × $0.39757 = $10.73
• Induction at the E-TOU-C off-peak rate, within baseline: 27 × $0.28617 = $7.73
• The same cooking on gas: about 2.45 therms, or $6.23 within baseline and $7.46 above it.

So the difference is roughly $0.30 to $4.50 a month in this example, depending on your plan and when you cook. That's real money, but it isn't what makes or breaks a PG&E bill. Heating, cooling, water heating, and EV charging matter far more. Our 2026 guide to lowering your PG&E bill starts with those.

When switching can still save money

1. The stove is your last gas appliance. If your water heater, furnace, and dryer are already electric, an induction range lets you close your gas account. That ends the whole gas bill, including the minimum transportation charge of $0.13151 a day (about $48 a year) that G-1 applies when usage is very low (Schedule G-1). Whether that outweighs the higher cost per meal depends on your usage, so run your own numbers from your bill.
2. You qualify for E-ELEC. PG&E's E-ELEC plan has lower winter energy rates ($0.32063 peak, $0.28468 off-peak per kWh, effective June 1, 2026) but adds a monthly base services charge. Induction alone doesn't qualify you, though. E-ELEC requires an EV, a battery, or an electric heat pump for space or water heating (Schedule E-ELEC). Compare plans in PG&E Rate Plans Compared.
3. You have solar. If you cook while your panels are producing, some of that electricity never touches PG&E's rates. How much that's worth depends on your net metering version; see NEM 3.0 vs NEM 2.0.
4. You'd otherwise use electric coil or radiant. Compared with standard electric cooktops (75-80% efficient), induction at about 85% uses somewhat less electricity for the same cooking.

Rebates for induction in PG&E territory

• Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) offers rebates to PG&E customers in 17 counties, including Butte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Nevada, Placer, and Tuolumne. When an ENERGY STAR induction range replaces a natural gas range, the rebate is $400 standard or $1,000 enhanced. The unit must have 4-5 burners, and funding is first come, first served (NREN kitchen appliance rebates).
• HEEHRA (federal-funded, run by the state): the California Energy Commission says single-family HEEHRA rebates have been fully reserved statewide since February 24, 2026. New requests go to a waitlist. Multifamily rebates are still available (CEC).
• Your CCA or city may run its own induction rebate or loaner program. Check its website before you buy, because most rebates aren't retroactive.

Try induction for the cost of a countertop burner

You don't need to replace your range to find out if you like induction. A plug-in burner runs on a standard outlet:

• Duxtop 9600LS portable induction cooktop (1,800 W). It has 20 power levels from 100 to 1,800 watts and runs on a standard 120 V, 15 A outlet, per the listing. Plug it straight into the wall: at full power it draws close to a 15 A circuit's limit, so skip power strips and extension cords. Induction needs magnetic cookware. Duxtop says the pan bottom must be at least 5 inches across, and ENERGY STAR notes that flat-bottomed cast iron and most stainless steel work.

If you want to see what your existing electric range or cooktop actually uses, a circuit-level monitor like the Emporia Vue 3 can track that circuit by the hour. Our home energy monitor guide covers setup.

Air quality: the non-dollar reason

The California Air Resources Board recommends running a range hood that vents outdoors whenever you cook, at the highest practical fan speed (CARB indoor air fact sheet). In CARB-sponsored cooking tests, nitrogen dioxide levels reached up to 400 parts per billion. That's well over CARB's one-hour guideline of 250 ppb (CARB). Burning gas is a source of nitrogen dioxide, and induction burns nothing. If you keep gas, use the hood every time.

Check your own numbers

Whether induction costs you more or less depends on your rate plan, how much of your usage lands in the 4-9 p.m. peak, and whether your gas usage runs above baseline in winter. Upload your PG&E bill to My Big Bill for a free audit. It reads your actual rate plan, baseline, and peak share, and it won't invent savings your bill doesn't support. Also see PG&E Time-of-Use Rates Explained, PG&E Baseline Allowance Explained, and How to Read Your PG&E Bill.

Frequently asked questions

Is induction cheaper than gas in California?

On PG&E's 2026 rates, usually not per meal. Gas costs about $0.27-$0.33 per kWh of heat delivered to the pan, compared with about $0.34-$0.48 for induction, depending on your plan, time of day, and baseline. Induction's higher efficiency narrows the gap but doesn't close it.

How much does it cost to run an induction burner for an hour on PG&E?

At its full 1,800 watts, a portable induction burner uses 1.8 kWh an hour. That's about $0.72 at the E-TOU-C winter peak rate above baseline, and about $0.52 off-peak within baseline. Most cooking doesn't run at full power for a whole hour.

How much does a gas stove cost per month on PG&E?

It depends on how much you cook. In our sample (about 2.45 therms a month), it's about $6.23 within baseline and $7.46 above baseline at October 2026 G-1 rates plus the PPP surcharge. Your bill shows your actual therms. The stove is usually a small share next to a furnace or water heater.

Will switching to induction lower my PG&E bill?

Only in specific cases: when it lets you close your gas account entirely, when you're replacing electric coil or radiant, or when you cook on solar power. Otherwise expect cooking costs to stay about the same or rise slightly.

Does an induction stove qualify me for PG&E's E-ELEC rate?

No. Per PG&E's tariff, E-ELEC requires an electric vehicle, a home battery, or an electric heat pump for space or water heating.

Are there rebates for induction stoves in PG&E territory?

Some. NREN offers PG&E customers in 17 Northern California counties $400-$1,000 for replacing a gas range with an ENERGY STAR induction range. Single-family HEEHRA rebates are fully reserved and on a waitlist as of February 2026. Check your CCA and city too.