Heating Oil Costs Highest On Record - What Are You Using To Heat Your Home?
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) the average cost to heat your home this winter season, October to March, will increase by an average of 3% to 8%, depending of the type of fuel you use to heat your home.
Heating Oil is primarily used in the Northeast. About 80% of all heating oil sales are in this area of the country. EIA projects residential heating oil prices to average $3.71 per gallon during the winter season, 33¢ per gallon more than last winter, and the highest average winter price on record. If you're one of seven million homeowners who will depend on heating oil this winter, get ready to pay at least $193 more for heat this season.
Natural Gas users will see the 3% increase on average, but if you look closer, you'll see folks in the South can expect a 10% increase in their winter heating bills. If you're one of the over 13 million homeowners in the South who depends on natural gas for heat, expect to pay more, even if you use less. The EIA projections include an expected decrease in the use of natural gas due to expected warmer temperatures. For people in the Northeast you can expect close to a 5% increase in your natural gas bill and the Midwest can expect a smaller 1% increase. The reason the overall projections are not higher is because out West the cost of natural gas is projected to decrease slightly.
Propane is used by only 5% of all households for heating or just over 5.5 million homes. These propane users will pay between 5% and 10% more. The Northeast can expect more than a 10% increase in heating costs or around $250. Homeowners in the Midwest will see a modest 5% increase but once again only if they use less propane. If their volume of propane use remains the same as last year, they can expect to pay an even higher price to heat their homes.
Electricity is the only heating fuel that is expected to remain neutral or come down in cost. With an average cost of 11¢ per KW/hr. electricity is safe, clean and efficient. Our infrared heaters use 1.5 KW/hr. on HIGH setting and 1.0 KW/hr. on LOW setting or 11¢ per hour on LOW & 16¢ per hour on HIGH [local cost of electricity may vary]. In a properly insulated space, once the room reaches desired temperature, all our infrared heaters cycle on and off and use virtually no electricity when the elements are not operating.
Overall Cost to Operate a 1500 Watt "Infrared Heater" is About $1 to $2 Per Day! |