Heating bills should drop this winter for most U.S. households, thanks to a combination of lower energy prices and warmer weather across most of the country.
The U.S. Energy Department's annual prediction Tuesday calls for lower energy costs than the past two winters.
It says the biggest savings should be for those using propane or heating oil, with homes that use propane spending $322 less and those with heating oil spending $459 less than last winter.
The projection is based on warmer weather for most of the country except in the West, which is forecast to be slightly cooler.
The forecast is especially good news in the Northeast, where homes are more reliant on heating oil. Heating oil prices were at a 10-year low in the most recent survey.
