The Northeast’s reliance on heating oil is turning into a crisis

Heating oil prices have jumped to around $6 a gallon across much of the Northeast, up from the mid-$3 range in February, after the war with Iran disrupted shipping and Ukrainian strikes hit Russian refineries. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects home heating costs will rise 50 percent across the region this winter, adding about $878 per household and $3.8 billion overall. More than four million Northeast households use heating oil, and some states, like Vermont and Maine, could see increases as high as 76 percent.

If you heat with oil, there aren't many quick fixes. Space heaters and wood stoves are options, but they're inefficient or limited to homes with a fireplace. Switching to a new natural gas furnace costs enough upfront that it could take years to pay off in savings. Weatherizing a home — adding insulation or sealing drafts around windows and doors — can lower bills, and many states offer funding to help cover that kind of work, so it's worth checking what your state provides.

Federal heating aid, called LIHEAP, helps low-income households cover fuel bills, but this winter's price spike means the same amount of assistance will buy much less oil. The program has about $4 billion to distribute by November 1, and lawmakers from both parties are pushing the Trump administration to release it faster, though the administration has previously tried to eliminate the program. Massachusetts has already declared a state of emergency, expanding aid to low- and middle-income households and activating price-gouging protections. A milder winter could ease the strain, but for now the outlook for oil-heated homes remains uncertain.