My standard heating is a heat pump with electric back up coil. I live in southern maryland so winters typically aren't brutally cold. In the coldest months my elec bills can push $500. Well this Decembers bill cycle was only $100 dollars less than last years based in price per kw. Factor in the amount pellets I burned and it seems I just broke even. Now I enjoy having the stove ( which was a gift so no upfront cost ) but with pellets avg 265 a ton , lugging ,stacking, cleaning etc i wonder if its worth it? It seems the increasing pellet prices just don't lend toward any real overall winter savings at least for me. Thoughts , comments , personal expirience ... Would love to hear others expirience , Thanks