While gas prices in Iowa are up about 27% and diesel prices are up 59% over a year ago, experts say sticker shock is ahead when it comes to the cost of the fuel you use to heat your home this winter. Tommi Makila, an energy policy analyst for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says natural gas prices are 79%  higher today than they were in July of last year.

"Just like pretty much all fossil fuels natural gas has been going up," Malika says. "Now we’ve actually seen in just the last few days, this week, natural gas has been coming down and we will see if that trend continues and that will be welcome news for pretty much everyone."

According to the D-N-R, the price of heating oil is 68 percent higher than it was a year ago. Propane prices are up 41 percent over last year. "Everybody’s really affected," Makila says. Makila advises Iowans to prepare for really high-prices home heating fuel this winter.

"Look beyond the gasoline and diesel prices and start thinking about the winter and do what you can to make your house more efficient because there is a good chance we will be paying more this year than we paid last year," Makila says.