Wednesday, November 6, 2024

15 Places Where Winter Utility Bills Have Skyrocketed

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Worried woman with bills
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Upgraded Points.

As the height of winter approaches in the U.S. and temperatures continue to drop across the country, many Americans are turning their focus to the high prices of household utilities — namely household heating fuels.

On average, nearly half of residential energy consumption in the U.S. is attributable to space heating, and 85% of U.S. adults report that their utility costs have increased in recent years.

While heating prices have come down in recent months compared to their 2023 peak, Americans are still projected to spend nearly 30% more on utilities this winter than before the pandemic.

Differences in fuels, prices, and climate create large regional variations in household utility expenditures, especially during the winter months.

The following is a breakdown of states most impacted by rising heating costs this winter.

The research was conducted by Upgraded Points using the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Refer to the methodology at the end for more details on how the analysis was conducted.

1. New Hampshire

Portsmouth, New Hampshire
By Jo Ann Snover / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +45.4%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $553
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $380
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Heating oil

2. Maine

Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine
E.J.Johnson Photography / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +44.4%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $509
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $353
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Heating oil

3. Louisiana

New Orleans Louisiana
Tim Roberts Photography / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +37.8%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $211
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $153
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Electricity

4. Florida

Miami, Florida, USA skyline on Biscayne Bay.
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +36.6%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $188
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $137
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Electricity

5. Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +32.5%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $364
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $274
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

6. Illinois

Snowy night in Millennium Park, Chicago, near Cloud Gate sculpture
MarynaG / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +32.4%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $259
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $195
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

7. Oklahoma

Hoarfrost near Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City
Richard G Smith / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +32.2%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $246
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $186
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

8. Kansas

Kansas Capitol
Henryk Sadura / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +31.4%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $267
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $203
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

9. Massachusetts

Arlington, Massachusetts
quiggyt4 / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +31.0%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $443
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $338
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

10. Texas

Houston, Texas
simon-vo / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +30.6%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $220
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $168
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Electricity

11. Connecticut

Snowy highway in Connecticut
barbsimages / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +29.8%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $506
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $389
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Heating oil

12. New York

Rain in New York City, New York
Martchan / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +29.8%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $356
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $274
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

13. Colorado

Fort Collins, Colorado
marekuliasz / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +29.0%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $204
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $158
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

14. Indiana

winter scene homes in Indianapolis, Indiana
Ted Alexander Somerville / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +28.4%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $272
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $212
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

15. Nebraska

Frozen lake in Hastings, Nebraska
Todd Stahlecker / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs: +27.8%
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2023–2024, Projected): $244
  • Average Monthly Winter Household Utility Costs (2019–2020): $191
  • Primary Household Heating Fuel Source: Natural gas

Methodology

Man studying data on his computer
Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

To find the locations most impacted by rising heating costs this winter, researchers at Upgraded Points analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook, Natural Gas data, Electricity data, Propane data, and Petroleum & Other Liquids data.

The researchers ranked states according to the change in monthly winter household utility costs from winter 2019–2020 to winter 2023–2024.

For the purposes of this analysis, winter was considered to be December through February, and the 4 most common heating fuel utilities (natural gas, electricity, propane, and heating oil) were considered in utility cost calculations.

Household utility costs were calculated using regional energy data, consumption patterns, and the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook projections.

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