But is it more efficient overall? Gas to elec, infrastructure losses, etc. vs just gas to heat?
Also, if the power plant is integrated into a CHP system to heat nearby households then generation gets back some percent.
Methane leaks are much more environmentally damaging than often appreciated because methane is such a potent greenhouse gas.
Converting gas heat to heat pumps, even if they have a gas heat backup for worst case days in northern latitudes, would still be a big win in the net environmentally.