The U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday announced it expects home heating costs to rise 19 percent for users of heating oil and 15 percent for users of natural gas, as temperatures are expected to be significantly colder than last year.
Because of a mild winter last year – particularly in Connecticut and the Northeast – the need for home heating fuels such as natural gas and heating oil dropped by close to 25 percent from October through March.
This year, EIA is predicting a much colder winter, causing demand for natural gas to rise 14 percent, heating oil up 17 percent, electricity up 8 percent, and propane up 17 percent.
Heating oil is the most dominant fuel used for heating in Connecticut, followed by natural gas.
While prices of those fuels — particularly heating oil and natural gas — are expected to remain flat for home heating for the next year, the increase in usage will cause overall costs to rise.
The rise comes because the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a 20-27 percent increase in the number of days requiring heating.
