EIA sees higher winter bills for heating-oil and electric households
The agency expects homes using gas and propane to spend less this winter, while heating-oil households face the largest increase.
Event / data period: 2026-10-06
Published: · Updated:
The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects households that primarily heat with natural gas or propane—about half of U.S. households—to spend less on those fuels this winter than last year. In its October 6 outlook, the agency forecast heating-oil fuel spending to rise about 21%, partly offset by milder expected weather in the Northeast, where most heating-oil homes are located.
Households relying mainly on electricity or heating oil are expected to spend more overall on heating, EIA said. It forecast heating-oil prices to rise more than 30% year over year, while heating-oil homes account for about 3% of U.S. households. The projections assume national winter temperatures near last year’s level and the previous ten-winter average; different weather would change demand and costs.
Data
Winter household fuel-cost outlook
EIA percentage forecasts for winter 2026–27 household heating expenses and fuel prices in the United States.
- 2026–27 winter heating-oil household spending, year-over-year change
- ≈21 percent
- 2026-11 — 2027-03 · Forecast
- 2026–27 winter heating-oil price, year-over-year increase
- ≥30 percent
- 2026-11 — 2027-03 · Forecast
- Share of U.S. households primarily using heating oil
- ≈3 percent
- 2026-10 · Estimate
Methodology
EIA forecasts released October 6, 2026. Winter estimates cover November 2026–March 2027 and changes compare with the previous winter. The approximately 3% household share refers to the October 2026 outlook. Expenditures depend on weather and fuel use.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- Oil and gasSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: propanewww.eia.gov ↗www.eia.gov ↗
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- United States · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
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