Pennsylvania’s average heating cost hits $198.86 a month this winter, up 53.71% since 2024. A strong El Niño may ease bills for natural gas-heated homes.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, UNITED STATES, November 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Know What Winter Will Cost Before the Snow Flies
Rising food and gas prices already squeeze Pennsylvania families, and now a very strong El Niño is expected to bring a warmer winter. Historically, El Niño brings Pennsylvania milder weather. Yet it can also destabilize the Polar Vortex and unleash short but bitter cold snaps and drive up PA energy bills. During the strong El Niño of 2015 to 2016, blizzards, ice storms, and below zero wind chills still struck, and some storms paralyzed the Northeast for days. This year, the harshest cold may arrive from late December into early January.
Using the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, researchers calculated Pennsylvania’s average monthly heating costs by fuel. Natural gas heats 52 percent of homes at $234.51 per month. Electricity heats 26 percent at $104.52. Fuel oil heats 13 percent at $313.37, and propane heats 6 percent at $150.12. Weighted by how many homes use each fuel, the average reaches $198.86 per month, or up to $1,400 across a typical seven month heating season.
Families who understand their heating costs now can make smarter energy choices before the first storm arrives.
The study is located here: https://www.paenergyratings.com/resources/pennsylvania-winter-heating-bill-forecast
This winter, total heating use should still fall, though cost forecasts vary by fuel. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects homes in the Midwest, South, and Northeast that heat with natural gas or propane to spend 10 to 15 percent less than last winter. Homes that heat with electricity are expected to pay slightly more, because wholesale prices keep pushing up Pennsylvania electricity rates. In the PJM grid region, those prices could rise 41 percent by the end of 2026.
Recent winters have been warmer than average but punctuated by severe cold blasts. Due in part to its location, Pennsylvania ranks tenth in the nation for highest winter heating costs. Cold fronts from Canada collide with moist coastal systems here, and lake effect snow pounds western cities. However, rising demand on the PJM grid is adding more pressure to heating costs.
Heating costs have climbed sharply since 2024. Pennsylvania’s weighted average rose 53.71 percent, from $129.37 to $198.86, the fourth steepest jump in the country. Natural gas costs surged 70.84 percent, fuel oil rose 51.86 percent, and electricity climbed 17.85 percent. By contrast, Hawaii and Florida post the lowest costs, at $9.84 and $26.85 per month.
PA natural gas customers may finally catch a break. High storage levels and strong production keep prices lower, and mild weather could leave supplies above average by late March. As a result, electricity prices could dip briefly in spring before air conditioning season begins. Through PA electric choice shoppers in Pennsylvania’s deregulated market can compare electric plans then.
PAEnergyRatings.com is operated by Lumanex LLC
Lumanex LLC operates an energy management platform and a network of energy shopping websites in 11 states across 56 utilities, providing our advisory, comparison and ratings service to over 58 million residential and commercial customers. We provide our customers with the power to choose the best providers through our consumer reviews platform and provide a reliable, unbiased source of valuable consumer insight, advice, in-depth energy company service evaluations, and personalized recommendations.
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Lumanex LLC
https://www.paenergyratings.com
Vernon Trollinger
PAEnergyRatings.com
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