Key facts
- US homes heated by natural gas are expected to spend about 1% less on energy this winter.
- US homes heated by propane are expected to spend about 2% less on energy this winter.
- US homes heated by electricity are expected to spend about 4% more on energy this winter.
- US homes heated by heating oil are expected to spend about 3% less on energy this winter.
US households primarily heating with natural gas or propane will spend less on energy this winter than last, according to the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Winter Fuels Outlook. The EIA projects that households using natural gas will see a 1% decrease in expenditures, while those using propane will experience a 2% decrease.
However, households relying on electricity for heating are expected to pay about 4% more this winter. Those using heating oil, predominantly in the US Northeast, are projected to pay 3% less, contrary to initial reports of increased costs due to disrupted diesel supplies and dwindling inventories. The EIA's December 2025 forecast indicates total winter heating costs of $670 for natural gas, $1,135 for electricity, $1,297 for propane, and $1,467 for heating oil.
The EIA's forecasts are subject to uncertainty due to potential changes in weather and commodity prices, and the outlook will be updated monthly through March 2026. The agency also noted that in a colder weather scenario, heating costs would be higher for all fuel sources compared to the previous winter.