What can I expect to pay for heating this winter?

The projection (as of March 12, 2013) for heating expenditures during the winter of 2012-13 (October through March) for households heating with:

• Natural gas — $657 per household, 7.8% increase over the previous winter
• Heating oil — $2,442 per household, 16.9% increase
• Propane (Midwest) — $1,382 per household, 10.1% decrease
• Electricity — $939 per household, 4.6% increase

Short-Term Energy Outlook

Historical winter heating fuel prices and expenditures (PDF)

How do I compare heating fuels?

Last updated: March 21, 2013

Other FAQs about Natural Gas

• Can I obtain a list of companies involved in the natural gas industry, such as utilities, pipeline companies, and storage operators?
• Does EIA have city or county-level energy consumption and price data?
• Does EIA have maps or information on the location of natural gas and oil pipelines?
• How can I choose my natural gas supplier in my state?
• How does EIA calculate the year-ago and five-year averages in the Natural Gas Weekly Storage Report?
• How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to generate a kilowatt-hour of electricity?
• How much does it cost to produce crude oil and natural gas?
• Where are the historical spot prices for natural gas?
• Where can I find shale gas and coal bed methane production and reserves data?
• Where is the boundary for state and federal offshore oil and gas production?
• Which states consume and produce the most natural gas?
• Why am I being charged more for propane than the price on EIA's website?
• How much natural gas does the United States have and how long will it last?
• How much natural gas is consumed (used) in the U.S.?
• How much shale gas is produced in the United States?
• What are Ccf, Mcf, Btu, and therms? How do I convert prices in Ccf and Mcf to Btus and therms?
• What are the major factors affecting natural gas prices?
• What can I expect to pay for heating this winter?
• What is the average cost of natural gas used for electric power generation?
• What is the outlook for home heating fuel prices this winter?
• What is the total working gas capacity in underground natural gas storage?
• What is the volume of world natural gas reserves?
• What percentage of homes in the U.S. use natural gas?
• What types and amounts of energy are produced in each state?