As record-breaking cold weather continues this winter, heating bills for Washington area households have risen significantly due to increased heating usage. This, coupled with rising gas and electricity prices, has further burdened households.
According to energy industry and local media, gas bills this winter have seen double-digit increases compared to the previous year.
“I use Washington Gas for heating,” said Mr. A, a resident of a single-family home in Centerville, Virginia. “I paid $156 in January last year, but this year it’s gone up about 37%, to $214.”
Mr. B, a resident of a townhouse in Burke, said, “I use Dominion Energy for both heating and air conditioning, and I keep my room temperature at a constant 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I paid $214 in January last year, and this January it’s gone up about 60%, to $343.”
Person C said, “I kept the house cold to save on heating costs because it’s an electric-only home, but the amount came out to be similar to last year,” and added, “Even though my electricity usage in January was 1,466 kWh, which is less than last year’s 1,809 kWh, my cost was around $240, which is not much different. It seems like the cost of electricity itself has gone up.”
Electricity rates are also under upward pressure. Major electric utilities in Virginia are pushing for or gradually raising rates, citing increased electricity demand and rising facility investment costs. With the severe cold this winter, the actual increase in heating costs for each household is becoming even greater. The effect of the rate increase is compounded by the increased heating usage, significantly increasing the burden on households.
In Northern Virginia townhomes that use only electricity for both heating and air conditioning, the cost came out to be $250-$300. For single-family homes, the average cost was $350-$400. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), winter heating costs are significantly affected by temperature and fuel prices, and if the cold snap continues, the burden of home heating costs could increase significantly.
According to local media and news reports, residents of DC and Northern Virginia are experiencing significant utility bill increases due to rising electricity and gas rates during the winter, which, coupled with the cold snap, are making the increase more noticeable. Dominion Energy, which supplies electricity to Virginia and other areas, plans to increase its base rate this year, which will cost the average customer an additional $11.24 per month.
Washington Gas, a major gas supplier in the Washington, DC area, also saw its average monthly bill increase after new pipe service rates took effect on January 1st.