Northeast Braces for Sharpest Winter Heating Bill Rise

NEADA projects heating costs rising nearly 9% this winter, averaging about $1,030 per household from mid-November to mid-March, with the Northeast hit hardest at roughly $2,297 for heating oil and $1,885 for electricity. Higher oil prices and growing electricity demand drive the jump, even as El Niño suggests a warmer season. Households are urged to plan budgets, boost energy efficiency (caulking leaks, upgrading furnaces), and explore available energy-assistance programs to cope with higher bills.