US Winter Heating Costs Projected to Rise More Than 7%
US heating costs are projected to rise more than 7% nationwide this winter, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, known as Neada. The group's executive director is Mark Wolfe, and Neada represents state officials seeking federal energy funding. Its report puts the increase at a national level, but the effect varies widely by household and by fuel.
Some households face heating cost increases of up to 70% this winter. Neada warns that disruptions stemming from the war with Iran are pushing US heating costs higher. Nearly 5 million US households use heating oil, and those households face a potential seasonal jump of 70%, to approximately $2,977. Households relying on heating oil in the north-east and Alaska face the largest increases.
Costs also differ by region and fuel. Average heating bills in the north-east are expected to rise 16.9%, or $221, from $1,311 last winter to $1,532 this winter. Electric heating costs are projected to increase about 6%, to $1,215, while propane heating bills are projected to rise roughly 5%, to an average of $1,350.
Money owed on utility bills is also mounting for many families. Roughly one in six US households are behind on utility payments, collectively owing about $23 billion, according to Neada. In July, US utilities disconnected power to 173,598 households across 10 states.
Neada is the primary educational and policy organization for state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, a federal program that helps low-income families pay their heating and cooling bills. The Trump administration proposed eliminating funding for LIHEAP in fiscal year 2026.
