The largest change is for families using electricity to heat their homes increasing by 14.2% from $1,040 to $1,189. Courtesy Photo

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Home heating costs this winter will remain unaffordable for millions of lower income families, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association, representing the state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, released its end-of-the-year projections of home heating costs for the winter heating season. Prices for home heating this winter on average are estimated to increase by about 8.7% to $941 from last year’s winter heating season average of $866, due to expected colder winter weather in the Northeast and Midwest states.

The largest change is for families using electricity to heat their homes increasing by 14.2% from $1,040 to $1,189. Electric prices are increasing due to continued high cost of maintaining and upgrading the grid and colder weather leading to increased consumption. In fact, electricity as reported by the November 2024 Consumer Price Index is rising faster than the overall rate of inflation.

In addition, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association predicts higher prices for natural gas, one of the main fuels used in electricity production, primarily due to increased exports of liquified natural gas with the average cost increasing from $615 to $634.

For those using heating oil, expenditures are estimated to decrease by 2.7% from $1,560 to $1,518. Households heating with propane can expect a 4.4 % increase in expenditures, from $1,179 last winter to $1,231 this year due to colder temperatures forecasted in the Midwest and Northeast.