An independent federal agency that tracks energy data said this week that it expects winter heating costs to be higher for 90 percent of Americans.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration said it’s projecting higher prices for residential natural gas, propane and electricity for the seven-month heating period of Oct. 1 to March 31.
The average home will pay an estimated 13 percent more for natural gas this winter compared to last winter. However, that $679 is 4 percent lower than the average for the past five winters.
Propane-heated homes are expected to spend an average of $1,666, a 9 percent increase. Homes with electric heat are expected to pay $909, a 2 percent bump.
Meanwhile, oil-heated homes are expected to spend $2,046, a 2 percent drop from last year.
More than half of homes in the Northeast have gas heat, the EIA said.
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