Average US Winter Heating Bill Projected at $976, Up From $907 the Prior Year
The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) has projected that the average American household will pay approximately $976 for home heating this winter, up from $907 the previous year, an increase that outpaces general inflation, according to reporting from E&E News.
The projection comes alongside continued uncertainty over LIHEAP funding delivery timelines, which NEADA and other advocacy groups say compounds the impact of rising costs for lower-income households in particular.
Separate analysis by the Joint Economic Committee, citing Department of Energy data, found households are projected to pay an average of $100 more for electricity in 2026 than in 2024, with 10 states and Washington, D.C. potentially seeing costs rise 10% or more year-over-year, per E&E News reporting.
Current LIHEAP funding reaches less than 20% of eligible families nationally, according to NEADA estimates cited in the same reporting, underscoring why checking eligibility directly rather than assuming a program is inaccessible remains worthwhile for qualifying households.
See how a change like this affects your own numbers with the LIHEAP eligibility guide.