Heating costs are set to rise this winter

A new report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) estimates that US home heating expenses will increase by 10.5% this winter compared to last year. This will bring the average seasonal bill to $982, up from $889 in 2023.

The good news? It’s not as bad a jump as in 2021 or 2022.

Expected cooler weather in the Northeast and Midwest is a big part of the reason for the higher average bill. And families that heat their home using electricity might feel it more than anyone. NEADA estimates they will see a 13.6% increase in bills to $1,208.

High maintenance costs and network upgrades are the reasons for this jump. The western states were particularly affected by this because of the fires. Prices there could rise 22.8 percent this winter, the organization said.

However, each form of heating will have some growth. Propane will rise an average of 7.3% to $1,442, and natural gas users can expect an average increase of 7.2% to $644 as those prices rise as winter drags on. Oil heaters will see a 6.1% increase to $1,963, but that’s better than last year as prices were rising then.

The higher bills come as more and more people can’t afford their utility bills. NEADA called on Congress not only to increase funding for the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) from $4.1 billion to $6.1 billion (which was provided last year), but also to allocate $1 billion for emergency assistance for the nation’s poorest families.

“In the short term, we need to support the millions of families across the country who are struggling to keep up with their monthly utility bills,” said NEADA Executive Director Mark Wolfe. in a statement.

The winter forecast comes after 70 percent of Americans say extreme heat has increased their electric bills in the past year.