As the October-through-March winter “heating season” unfolds, a spate of forecasts indicates that the cost of electricity will double, if not triple, the projected 2–3 percent overall 2026 inflation rate and, regardless of fuel source, make it more expensive to stay warm this winter.
The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), in its Oct. 15 Winter Fuels Outlook 2025–2026, projected that a nationwide “average” 5-percent increase in electricity costs in 2026 will raise winter heating costs by 4 percent and even more for the 42 percent of U.S. households that use electricity for heating.
That 5 percent hike in retail electricity exceeds overall 2026 inflation projections ranging from 2.2 to 3.2 percent….