In a winter expected to feature flattish consumption versus year-earlier levels, households heating with natural gas should pay around 20% less for fuel during the upcoming heating season, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 

Henry Hubs Prices

Lower wholesale natural gas prices year/year will drive the decrease in energy costs for homes heated with the fuel, EIA found in its latest Winter Fuels Outlook (WFO).

Natural gas-heated homes will see lower expenditures on average in all scenarios, including those featuring a 10% colder winter versus baseline expectations, EIA said. In the base case, households in the West will see the largest decrease year/year, with expenditures projected to decline by 30% on average, or by 34% should winter temperatures realize 10% warmer...