This was one of the factors that led me to replace two 40 gallon gas water heaters (on two separate gas lines, so $60 every month before a single pilot light is

This was one of the factors that led me to replace two 40 gallon gas water heaters (on two separate gas lines, so $60 every month before a single pilot light is lit) with one 80 gallon HPWH. The other factor was that you have various options to get renewable electricity, from paying your utility to installing solar panels. There is no such option for natural gas.