From the U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Wednesday, October 20, 2010:
A warmer heating season this year will somewhat offset increased costs for heating fuels, causing most U.S. households to experience only a 3% increase in home heating costs, according to DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA expects the lower 48 states to be 3% warmer than last year during the October-March winter heating season, although the projections vary by region. For instance, the Northeast is expected to experience a colder heating season than last year, resulting in a 5% increase in energy consumption for heating. The region is also the dominant user of fuel oil for home heating, and price increases for the heating fuel will drive up the average cost of home heating in the region by 13%, or about $259 on average. Households using electricity for heating are on the opposite end of the scale, as an expected decrease in both prices and consumption will yield a 2% savings in home heating costs relative to last year. The majority of U.S. households falls between these extremes, with homes heated with natural gas experiencing a 4% increase in heating costs, while those using propane will spend an average of 8% more this winter. See the EIA press release.
Continue reading: EIA: Home Heating Costs to Increase Slightly This Winter