Consumers to Face Higher Heating Costs This Winter Season

The U.S. Energy Department's 2007-2008 "Short Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook" is predicting both colder weather than last year and record high fuel costs.

The DOE said the average cost of heating homes during the heating season will rise nearly $90 or 10 percent this winter compared with last year.

Households warmed with heating oil will really feel the hit. The average heating oil bill is expected to rise by $319 this heating season, compared to last year. That's an increase of nearly 22 percent.

The average propane heating bill will rise by $221, a 16.3 percent increase.

For those heating with natural gas, the average heating bill will expand by $78 or 9.5 percent.

The average electric heat bill will rise only $32 this season, an increase of 3.9 percent, according to the DOE.

Nationwide, most homes are heated with natural gas, followed by electricity, heating oil and then propane. Natural gas spending will be up most in the Midwest where bills will increase by an average of 11.4 percent.

The Michigan Gas Utilities Corporation, a natural gas utility serving more than 165,000 southern Michigan customers, has many great Energy-Saving Tips that they can help you "Lower Your Use, Limit Your Costs".