Gas central heating or electric heaters

Until now, the decision was one of personal preference.

Electric heating is more costly to run, but easier/cheaper to install .... but think about the "supply potencia" that the house has. Many houses here have tiny power supplies, perhaps 3.4kw or 5.5kw (much lower than in the UK). So either you must ration the heating, or pay to have the supply upgraded (with a higher ongoing standing charge), which often needs a re-wire and always needs a re-certification. Many holiday homes have electric heating, as the higher running costs are infrequent.

The electricity peak/off-peak/medium periods have just changed in Spain, which makes electric heating more expensive to run, unless you rely completely on overnight (off-peak) storage.

A gas boiler/radiator setup is cheaper to run, but many areas have no mains gas, so propane bottles/tanks are the norm. These are a bit of a pain (we are in the process of switching from 12 bottles - in 2 banks of 6 - to a bulk tank), take up space, and gas safety re-certification is required every 5 years. The smallest available knee-high bottles weigh around 18kg when full, so think about this if you are of advancing years. In a cold snap, we can use 3 bottles/week (in our 3 bedroom bungalow). Gas heating is more prevalent in "full-time" homes. 

We have oil for our hot water and central heating. Our home is about 100m2 with 8 radiators. We like to be warm and use about 1500 litres each year, over 80% of that is during the winter. Depending on fuel prices, it costs us about 1000 Euros annually. Plus we have a woodburner - winter nights can be quite cold up here in the northwest!

Systems using pellet burners are becoming more popular but I have no experience of them.. 

Hi guys

Quite a few options here in Calasparra and it does depend on where you want to live of course - Urbanisation, Town or Campo (Countyside)

For Urbanisations, on Valle del Sol where I live, there is mains Gas which could provide Hot Water & Central Heating.   On Canada Verde their Gas Supply is Butane (I think) from a Central Tank.

I am not to sure what Coto Rinales have, never had cause to discuss that issue with friends who live there.

I do not know anyone who has Electric Heating.

The other option is a Pellet Burner which will supply Hot Water and feed Radiators. I understand this is a cheaper option to Gas Central Heating.  We have a pellet burner (no radiators as it is powerful enough to heat our downstairs and this last Winter cost us 280euros in pellets.   Easy to clean, very little waste and you still get flames to look at on dark winter days !

Campo, I think the option would be Bottle Gas or Oil (Expensive).

In town most of the Apartments have either Oil or Gas.

Hope this helps and as you are looking at Calasparra remember other areas/locations will have different set ups dependent on availability.

Good luck with your search.

Rick