WINTER FUEL OUTLOOK

WASHINGTON — According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook, the EIA expects higher prices this winter for homes that heat with natural gas, propane, and electricity. Home heating oil prices are expected to be lower than last winter.

Forecast temperatures are close to last winter with the Northeast about 3 percent colder and the West 3 percent warmer.

Projected changes in residential expenditures from last winter are:

• 13 percent higher for homes that heat primarily with natural gas;

• 9 percent higher for propane;

• 2 percent higher for electricity; and

• 2 percent lower for heating oil.

Although natural gas expenditures are significantly higher than last winter, they are still lower than the average of the previous five winters (October 2007 – March 2012).

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