Will Your Heating Costs Go Down This Winter?

There seems to be some good news for homeowners in the colder parts of our country, which of course include Glenview and Wilmette. Warmer temperatures are expected this winter which may lead to lower heating costs.

According to the Energy Information Administration, those heating with propane this winter may be able to lower their costs by as much as 14% from last winter. Natural gas bills could drop by 12% but houses that use electric heat may only see a 2% reduction.

While warmer weather is part of the reason for these expected savings, natural gas supplies are also up making prices go down. Some sellers are even offering homeowners deals on natural gas furnaces in an attempt to gain new customers for their increased supply of natural gas.

Those heating with oil may see prices that fluctuate this winter. Homeowners can hedge against this by locking in their supplier's price to them. This may work to their disadvantage though if the price actually goes down even more.

Electricity makes up about 1/3 of the country's heating fuel and it too should go down slightly. Since the prices of the fuels used to create electricity, mainly coal and and natural gas, have fallen, hopefully the cost of electricity will fall as well.

Of course, just waiting for costs to go down may not be enough for your family. Lowering the thermostat, taking shorter showers, setting the temperature on your water heater down a bit, and shutting off lights when you leave a room, can all help lower your utility bills this winter.

To reap the benefits of a warmer winter and lower prices on fuels, a move to the midwest may be just what your family needs. Call on the Marla Schneider Team to help you make the move. Marla and her team can help you find a home with lots of "green" technology to help lower utility costs year-round.