Ohio winter heating costs average $172 a month, study finds

Ohio households pay about $172 a month for winter heating, with natural gas serving most homes and electricity offering the lowest monthly bill, according to a new study. The report says mild El Niño conditions could trim demand this winter, but cold snaps and higher electric prices could still strain budgets.

Why it matters: - Ohio families are facing higher food and gasoline costs, and winter heating is another major household expense. - The study says knowing fuel-specific heating costs can help families make better energy choices before colder weather arrives. - A warmer-than-average winter could lower overall heating use, but brief cold snaps could still drive bills higher.

What happened: - Ohio Energy Ratings released a study on Ohio winter heating costs by fuel and by county. - The study says Ohio homes pay about $172.04 a month for winter heat on a weighted average basis. - The report says natural gas heats 64% of Ohio homes and averages $202.92 per month. - Electricity heats 23% of homes and averages $95.22 per month, the lowest monthly cost of any fuel. - Propane heats 7% of homes and averages $209.63 per month. - Fuel oil heats 2% of homes and averages $310.86 per month. - The study is available with an interactive county map at the full study.

The details: - The study weighted each fuel by the share of homes using it instead of averaging fuel prices equally. - The weighted approach keeps rare, expensive fuels from skewing what most households pay. - Over Ohio’s seven heating months, the study says total heating costs can reach about $1,200. - The report ranks Ohio 20th nationally for highest winter heating cost, near the median. - Ohio’s natural gas production helps hold gas prices down even though Great Lakes weather can bring snow and ice to northern parts of the state. - The study says newer heating systems cost less to run. - Between 2024 and 2026, Ohio’s weighted heating cost rose 7.12%, the 8th smallest increase in the nation. - Electricity costs increased 16.95% because of tight supplies on the PJM grid. - Fuel oil jumped 30.34% over the same period. - Natural gas rose 4.59%, limiting the overall increase because gas is the main heating fuel in the state.

Between the lines: - A strong El Niño may bring a warmer winter to much of the country, but the Polar Vortex can still send short bursts of Arctic air into the Midwest. - The report suggests Ohio households with natural gas heat are positioned for a relative break this winter. - The study also points to spring as a good time to shop for electricity deals in Ohio’s deregulated market. - The analysis matters beyond this winter because the fuel mix, not just weather, drives long-term cost exposure.

What's next: - The federal Energy Information Administration expects Midwest, South and Northeast homes that heat with natural gas or propane to spend 10% to 15% less than last winter. - Ohio families with natural gas heat may see the biggest near-term benefit if storage stays high and production stays strong. - Electricity shoppers could see better pricing before air conditioning season if the market loosens further. - The study says colder spells in late December and early January could temporarily push heating use higher even in a mild winter.

The bottom line: - Ohio’s winter heating bill is likely to stay manageable on average, but the size of the bill still depends heavily on fuel type and weather swings.