diff --git a/config/config.default.yaml b/config/config.default.yaml
index a6df173b..4bc1ccd0 100644
--- a/config/config.default.yaml
+++ b/config/config.default.yaml
@@ -440,6 +440,7 @@ sector:
     decentral: 3
     central: 180
   boilers: true
+  resistive_heaters: true
   oil_boilers: false
   biomass_boiler: true
   chp: true
diff --git a/doc/configtables/sector.csv b/doc/configtables/sector.csv
index 856ea074..2a65e2a8 100644
--- a/doc/configtables/sector.csv
+++ b/doc/configtables/sector.csv
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ tes,--,"{true, false}",Add option for storing thermal energy in large water pits
 tes_tau,,,The time constant used to calculate the decay of thermal energy in thermal energy storage (TES): 1- :math:`e^{-1/24τ}`.
 -- decentral,days,float,The time constant in decentralized thermal energy storage (TES)
 -- central,days,float,The time constant in centralized thermal energy storage (TES)
-boilers,--,"{true, false}",Add option for transforming electricity into heat using resistive heater
+boilers,--,"{true, false}",Add option for transforming gas into heat using gas boilers
+resistive_heaters,--,"{true, false}",Add option for transforming electricity into heat using resistive heaters (independently from gas boilers)
 oil_boilers,--,"{true, false}",Add option for transforming oil into heat using boilers
 biomass_boiler,--,"{true, false}",Add option for transforming biomass into heat using boilers
 chp,--,"{true, false}",Add option for using Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
diff --git a/scripts/prepare_sector_network.py b/scripts/prepare_sector_network.py
index 82578c29..7eef4f50 100755
--- a/scripts/prepare_sector_network.py
+++ b/scripts/prepare_sector_network.py
@@ -1827,7 +1827,7 @@ def add_heat(n, costs):
                 lifetime=costs.at[name_type + " water tank storage", "lifetime"],
             )
 
-        if options["boilers"]:
+        if options["resistive_heaters"]:
             key = f"{name_type} resistive heater"
 
             n.madd(
@@ -1842,6 +1842,7 @@ def add_heat(n, costs):
                 lifetime=costs.at[key, "lifetime"],
             )
 
+        if options["boilers"]:
             key = f"{name_type} gas boiler"
 
             n.madd(
@@ -3415,7 +3416,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if "I" in opts:
         add_industry(n, costs)
 
-    if "I" in opts and "H" in opts:
+    if "H" in opts:
         add_waste_heat(n)
 
     if "A" in opts:  # requires H and I