Pennsylvanians 'should brace for a costly winter,' warns report

While winter forecasts predict mild weather mixed in with snow, cold temperatures at night will prompt many a household to turn up their thermostats.

While how much one pays for heat depends on the type of energy one uses, a recent report has found how Pennsylvania is among the states shelling out the most dough to keep homes warm during colder months.

This Old House — a “multi-platform home enthusiast brand” which “boasts two of the top-rated home improvement shows on television” — published this report last month ahead of the winter season.

The report’s findings were based on natural gas prices and consumption data pulled from the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). The research also took a look at winter weather building damage estimated gleaned from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

When all was said and done, Pennsylvania ranked as 15th when it came to having the “most expensive winter.” It ranked sixth when it came to just natural gas spending alone, with an average $968 per household.

The state which topped the list, however, was Massachusetts. Natural gas costs here reached over $1,200.

“Although states with the highest heating costs are in the northeast, the western United States — which has the most widespread use of natural case for heating — saw the biggest prices increases,” the study reads.

“In Wyoming, heating prices increased by more than 108% from 2018 to 2022. Of the remaining top 10 states with the greatest winter heating price increase during this five-year period, nine of them were Western states, including Colorado (85% increase) and Idaho (75% increase).”