Compare the whole change
Collect a year of electric and gas bills, including energy use, rate plan, and fixed charges. Tell the assessor which gas appliances will stay. Ask the utility to confirm the current tariff that would apply after the change and the terms of any proposed special rate. Xcel publishes its official rate books. Xcel rate books.
We would want the forecast to separate the furnace's heating fuel from gas used for water heating, cooking, or other appliances. Ask whether any fixed gas charge would remain. A higher electric bill by itself does not show the total change if gas use also falls.
Ask what the estimate assumes
Request the exact matched equipment, the heating-load assessment, and the performance data used across winter temperatures. Ask how the calculation treats auxiliary electric heat or gas backup, defrost, indoor comfort settings, and the hours spent in colder weather.
Ask for a reasonable range, including a colder winter and more backup use. If savings depend on a rebate, low rate, or home improvement, list that condition separately. Installation incentives reduce purchase cost; they do not prove lower winter operating cost.
A neighbor's bill can suggest questions, but it cannot forecast your home's result. Different insulation, temperatures, floor area, rates, and household habits can change the comparison.
Let the numbers guide the equipment choice
If an all-electric forecast looks unfavorable, ask for a dual-fuel comparison, where a heat pump and furnace have distinct roles. If your goal includes cooling or replacing failing equipment, weigh those benefits separately from heating savings.
Your next step is a dated, written comparison of total annual gas and electric costs with clear assumptions. We would make the choice once you can see the expected result and which conditions could change it.