Is home heating going to cost more this winter? (Boston Globe)
Below is an excerpt of an article published by the Boston Globe on October 28, discussing the financial aspects of home heating costs for the winter season in New England. The article also provides information on available financial assistance for those in need. Greater Boston Legal Services and the National Consumer Law Center are mentioned.
Last winter, I paid $300 less to heat my house, compared to the previous winter. That certainly was a welcome relief after three straight years of double-digit increases in my winter energy bill.
I have already turned the heat on briefly a couple of times this month, and soon enough, I expect to keep it on all the time. I use a combination of natural gas and electricity (boiler in basement; heat pump in attic) to heat my house, which is average-sized.
This winter, I expect to pay about the same or only slightly more than last year. That’s based on the latest estimate of the US Energy Information Administration, which crunches lots of data to compute monthly “short-term energy outlooks.”
Energy is expensive, especially in New England, which is dependent on natural gas to both directly heat many homes and to generate the electricity used to heat others (some households, like mine, use both). This region is also more dependent on oil for home heating than other regions.
With winter just around the corner, here are some things to know about heating your home:
Read more at the Boston Globe.
