After several years of skyrocketing winter heating costs, millions of Americans are expected to finally get a little relief this coming season — if they heat their homes with natural gas, that is.
Natural gas heating, which is used by just under half of US homes, is expected to cost an average of $726 this winter, down 7.8% from last year, according to an estimate released Wednesday from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.
But those using home heating oil will likely get walloped once again. The cost is expected to jump to an average of $2,275, up 8.7% from last year, as oil prices rise due in part to recent decisions by Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut back on petroleum production. Only 4.1% of households use home heating oil, mainly in the Northeast.
“This is the first year many families will get a break,” said Mark Wolfe, the association’s executive director, referring to the projected drop in natural gas heating costs. However, “if you are up in New England, this is scary. It’s going to be another expensive year for families using heating oil.”
Heating with propane is expected to cost an average of $1,538, up 4.2% from last season. Electricity, which is the second most common source of heat, is projected to cost an average of $1,374, up 1.2%.
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