Winter heating bills are expected to be slightly lower for most families across the nation, with the highest reductions for those who use natural gas, the Energy Information Administration announced recently. Nationwide, 58 percent of all households depend on natural gas as their primary heating fuel. Despite increased natural gas consumption this winter, households in all regions will pay significantly less for natural gas this winter due to lower prices.
Projected changes in heating expenditures relative to last winter reflect both price and weather changes, but lower expected prices for natural gas should result in lower heating bills for most American households. Those homeowners who have opted to install high-efficiency, 95 percent plus AFUE furnaces will see even bigger reductions in their heating bills than the rest of the population.