Do you have any idea what the cost per meal of cooking appliances is? Cooktops, ovens or microwaves? At today's energy prices, an electric range top on "medium" costs 4-1/2 cents per hour and on "high" 18 cents an hour, A gas cooktop on medium costs only 3 cents, and 13 cents on high. Electric ovens cost 22 cents per hour and gas about 14. Big microwaves are 22 cents per hour and little ones are 15 cents, or less. And that's the On The House tip for today.