[jjav]

> If we can't reliably deliver electricity why should I trust the ability to reliably deliver electricity _and_ natural gas?

To state the obvious, because if one or the other is out at least I have the other one.

That said, while electricity outages are pretty common here (California, thanks PG&E), natural gas has never had any kind of outage or problem.

So with gas I can still cook (gas range) when the electricity is out and I have hot water (gas water heater). I could even heat the house because the furnace fan doesn't require that much power so it can easily be powered by my small generator while all the heating BTUs come from the reliable natural gas line.