Homeowners brace for skyrocketing heating oil costs at start of cold season

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The price to heat your home with oil has nearly doubled since last winter — but there’s help if you know where to look. Costs continue to soar, and we’re getting answers on what you’ll pay — and how assistance can save you some money.

We’re only two days into fall, but with oil prices nearing record highs, those we spoke with say now’s the time to think about future relief. A sentiment felt by homeowners and workers alike, heating costs are reaching new heights.

As of this week, retail heating oil prices are about $6.15 per gallon, according to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. That marks an over 50 percent increase from last winter’s heating season due to both inflation and foreign tensions.

A typical home has a 275-gallon tank, running the cost of a single fill-up to between $1,500 and $1,700. But most homes burn double or triple that over the winter, easily pushing heating bills past three-thousand dollars.

There is a way to get relief, through Massachusetts’ Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program.

If you live alone and make less than $53,585, you can qualify for this free program. That income limit goes up by just over $16,000 for every extra person in your home. Depending on the size of your household, LIHEAP can help pay anywhere from $200 to over $1,000 in assistance.

If you aren’t eligible for this program, there are still ways to shave some extra dough off the final bill.

“I think the best way to save this year for everybody going into the upcoming season would be, unfortunately, lower your temperatures a little bit, add an extra sweater. Maybe upgrade that heating system that’s old, you know, inefficient. We know it’s a costly, you know, thing for you, but it will save you a lot of money in the long term,” said owner of Richard’s Fuel and Heating.

Simmons added that it’s expected to be the most expensive heating winter in decades, so it’s better to get ahead of the curve now.

If you’re interested in the LIHEAP program don’t wait, applications close in a week from today, on October 1st. You can find more information on the official Massachusetts website.