U.S. consumers will spend more to heat their homes during winter months compared to last year due mostly to higher energy commodity prices, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected in its Winter Fuels Outlook on Oct. 13.
Households that use propane and heating oil will likely spend much more than last year, EIA said.
EIA said it based its cost estimates on expectations of high retail energy prices—many are already at multiyear highs—and on forecasts for slightly colder weather this winter boosting household energy consumption over last year.
Last year, many energy prices reached multiyear lows due to coronavirus demand destruction. The wholesale price of natural gas, the most used heating fuel in the United States, averaged just $2.11 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) in 2020, their lowest in 25 years.
The main reason wholesale prices of natural gas, crude oil and petroleum products have risen is that fuel demand has increased from recent lows faster than supply, in part because of economic recovery after the pandemic, EIA said.
Depending on where in the country people live, EIA said residential costs this winter—residents' costs are higher than wholesale prices—will rise to about $11-$14 per Mcf for natural gas, about $2.50-$3.50 per gallon for propane, and almost $3.50 per gallon for heating oil.
That compares with last winter's residential costs of around $10-12 per thousand cubic feet for natural gas, $1.50-$2.50 per gallon for propane, and $2.50 per gallon for heating oil.
Recommended Reading
Iraq to Seek Bids for Oil, Gas Contracts April 27
2024-04-18 - Iraq will auction 30 new oil and gas projects in two licensing rounds distributed across the country.
Vår Energi Hits Oil with Ringhorne North
2024-04-17 - Vår Energi’s North Sea discovery de-risks drilling prospects in the area and could be tied back to Balder area infrastructure.
Tethys Oil Releases March Production Results
2024-04-17 - Tethys Oil said the official selling price of its Oman Export Blend oil was $78.75/bbl.
Exxon Mobil Guyana Awards Two Contracts for its Whiptail Project
2024-04-16 - Exxon Mobil Guyana awarded Strohm and TechnipFMC with contracts for its Whiptail Project located offshore in Guyana’s Stabroek Block.
Deepwater Roundup 2024: Offshore Europe, Middle East
2024-04-16 - Part three of Hart Energy’s 2024 Deepwater Roundup takes a look at Europe and the Middle East. Aphrodite, Cyprus’ first offshore project looks to come online in 2027 and Phase 2 of TPAO-operated Sakarya Field looks to come onstream the following year.