U.S. Expects Winter Heating Bills to Rise in the Country

Most U.S. households will spend more money on heating bills this coming winter than they did last year, according to an Energy Information Administration (EIA) report. Specifically, the average gas heating bill could increase by 28 percent.

“Nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes are heated primarily with natural gas or electricity. On average, we expect wholesale natural gas prices to be higher this winter than last winter, leading to higher retail prices for both natural gas and electricity this winter. Natural gas is the most common fuel used to generate electricity in the United States,” the agency noted. Gas accounts for up to 47 percent of heating in the U.S. and electricity for 41 percent.

Gas heating bills this heating season (October-March) will average $931, an increase of $206 or 28% over last year, the EIA said. This increase in bills is due to both higher retail gas prices and an expected increase in consumption due to a colder winter.

Heating oil bills will increase by 27% (to an average of $2,35,000), electricity by 10% (to $1,36,000) and propane by 5% (to $1,67,000), according to the report.