According to a report published last week by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), it was revealed that, for this winter season, American households could be paying much more for their heating services.

During this season, millions of Americans will not only have to prepare with food and other supplies to face The low temperatures will not only affect households, but they will also have to readjust their budgets to cope with bills, as heating prices are expected to increase by 9.2%. NEADA data indicates that American households will spend up to $995 on heating this winter, which is $84 more compared to last year. The reason for this increase is due to the high costs of other related services, such as electricity and natural gas, which also increased by 12% and 8.4% respectively. This means that Americans could be paying $133 for electricity and $54 for natural gas this winter. In addition, fuel costs will also rise by 0.4%, reaching $6. However, propane costs will decrease by 1.4%, settling at $18. In a statement, NEADA noted that, “aging grid infrastructure and regional capacity limitations are increasing system costs. Furthermore, the reduction of federal incentives for renewable energy has slowed investment in new clean energy,” it said. But the association also indicated that other factors are influencing the increase in utility bills, including rising interest rates that affect power plant financing. The agency emphasized that these increases, even if minimal, “can force families to choose between paying utility bills and covering essential needs such as food, rent, or medicine.”