www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | JUNE 2016 13
U.S. household heating fuel shares in each Census Division, 2014
percent of division
New England
Middle Atlantic
East North Central
West North Central
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
Mountain
Pacific
0% 50% 100%
Natural Gas
Electricity
Fuel Oil or Kerosene
Propane
Wood
Other or None
heating oil prices were about 29% lower
this winter compared with the previous
winter. As the El Niño event dissipates
and demand increases, refinery heating
oil prices are forecast to increase 18%
by next winter.
Propane. Residential propane
prices remained relatively flat during
the winter season, averaging $1.98
per gallon. As of April 1, 2016, U.S.
propane stocks were up by 2.0 million
barrels to 64.9 million barrels, 6.9
million barrels (11.9%) higher than
a year ago. On average, U.S. house-
holds paid 15% less for propane this
winter compared with the previous
winter. In the Midwest, which uses
more propane than other regions,
prices declined by more than 22%
from the previous winter.
Electricity. Electricity prices change
more slowly than the prices of heating
fuels because electricity rates in many
areas of the country are set using regu-
latory mechanisms with long time lags.
Residential electricity prices fell slightly,
declining 0.5% from winter 2014-15 to
winter 2015-16.
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