Natural gas prices will hit pocketbooks

Unseasonably warm weather is helping Iowans’ pocketbooks, at least temporarily. Iowa Department of Natural Resources energy analyst Jennifer Moehlmann says the 67 percent of Iowans who heat their homes with natural gas will see significantly higher prices. Moehlmann says on November 15th, natural gas prices were 33 percent higher than they were at this time last year. Moehlmann predicts Iowa consumers will pay about 29 percent more this winter if they heat their homes with natural gas. Fifteen percent of Iowa homes are heated by propane. Moehlmann expects those homeowners to pay about 22 percent more this winter to heat their homes with propane. The average price for a gallon of propane is a-dollar-30, about six cents higher than the price in mid-October. Moehlmann says the price of heating oil is expected to rise the most of all heating fuels. She predicts the two percent of Iowa homes which use heating oil will pay about 38 percent more this winter compared to last for their heating oil supply.