The States Where Winter Energy Bills Will Hit Hardest This Year
Written by
Gabriel Vito
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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Energy bills go up every winter. But how much they rise, and how hard households feel it, depends heavily on where you live.
This year, forecasts from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association show the average household will spend about 7.6% more on home energy, even before accounting for regional differences.
That exposure is shaped by more than cold weather alone. Energy prices, heating fuel mix, housing efficiency and delivery costs all play a role, which is why some states are more vulnerable to winter bill pressure than others.
Why Winter Energy Bills Are Rising
Several forces are pushing winter energy bills higher. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook show residential electricity prices have continued to rise nationwide.
Natural gas prices also remain elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to the EIA’s Winter Fuels Outlook, raising heating costs in many states. Older homes can compound the issue, losing heat faster and forcing heating systems to run longer during cold spells. That helps explain why many households see higher bills even when their habits haven’t changed much.
States Where Winter Energy Bills Could Hit Hardest
For this analysis, “hit hardest” refers to states where multiple cost pressures overlap, including higher energy prices, reliance on winter heating fuels, housing efficiency and household vulnerability — not winter temperatures alone.
West: California
According to state-level electricity price data from the EIA’s Electric Power Monthly, California remains among the most expensive states for residential power. Many homes also rely on natural gas for heating, increasing exposure when winter demand rises.
“In inland parts of California, it’s common to see winter bills jump from around $150 a month in the summer to $350 or even $500 during colder months,” said Ethan Heine, president and CEO of Suntrek Solar.
Tiered electricity rates, higher gas prices, and older, less insulated homes amplify winter costs, particularly away from the coast. Those seasonal spikes can make winter bills harder to budget for, especially in older homes.
Northeast: New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maine
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show the Northeast remains one of the most expensive regions to heat a home. State-level electricity price data indicate that states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts face higher baseline electricity costs, which can push winter bills higher even before usage spikes.
Maine faces an additional winter energy challenge. According to EIA data, more than half of Maine households — about 52% — rely on heating oil as their primary source of home heating, the highest share of any state. That reliance leaves households especially vulnerable to fuel price swings, where even modest increases can translate into sharp winter bill jumps that are difficult to plan around.
Midwest: Illinois and Indiana
Illinois and Indiana face winter energy pressure for different reasons than coastal states. While residential electricity prices have risen nationwide, state-level EIA data show that households in both states are entering winter with higher baseline energy costs compared with prior years.
Once colder weather sets in, households have limited ability to reduce usage, particularly in older homes that lose heat more quickly.
“Rising delivery charges, aging infrastructure and inefficient housing are pushing winter bills higher even for households that don’t significantly increase usage,” said Caleb Caviness, general manager at AryCo HVAC.
What Households Can Do Now
For many households, lowering winter energy bills isn’t about using less, it’s about avoiding surprises. While energy prices are largely out of consumers’ control, efficiency still matters when winter demand and delivery charges overlap.
Caviness said sealing air leaks, replacing furnace filters and scheduling an HVAC inspection before the coldest weather arrives can help systems run more efficiently. Smart thermostats can also cut costs by lowering temperatures overnight or during work hours. In high-cost states such as California, Heine said some homeowners are turning to solar-assisted systems or heat pumps to reduce reliance on the grid during expensive winter periods.
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