Powell and Liberty Township households heating with natural gas could spend less on fuel this winter, but rising utility rates on both the gas and electric sides may eat into those savings.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) 2026-27 Winter Fuels Outlook projects Midwest natural gas households will spend about $613 over the five-month heating season, down 10% from last year. Nationally, the average drops to $640, a 9% decline. The EIA expects similar temperatures to last winter in the Midwest and lower natural gas prices.

Homes heated with electricity face the opposite trend. The EIA forecasts a 3% rise in residential electricity prices nationally, pushing winter electric bills up 4%. Midwest electric-heated homes face a projected seasonal cost of $1,380, up 3%.

"Relatively high natural gas inventories entering the winter season provide a cushion for heating demand," EIA Administrator Tristan Abbey said, as reported by Quartz.

Local rates keep climbing

Those federal projections do not account for utility-specific rate changes hitting Delaware County customers.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved AEP Ohio's distribution rate case on April 2. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel projects a typical AEP Ohio bill will rise about $4.38 per month by the end of 2026 and $10.28 per month by 2028, according to the Ohio Environmental Council. AEP Ohio's basic transmission cost rider also rose about 0.79 cents per kilowatt-hour on April 1, adding roughly $7.90 per month for a customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours, according to a SolarAmerica analysis.

On top of that, AEP Ohio customers on the Standard Service Offer saw their generation rate rise to 10.12 cents per kilowatt-hour on June 1, an increase of about $1.81 per month for a typical household, according to AEP Ohio. That rate runs through May 31, 2027.

On the gas side, Columbia Gas of Ohio serves nearly 1.5 million customers across 61 counties, including Delaware County. A Signal Ohio analysis published in February found that Columbia Gas customers' standard gas rate jumped from 66 cents per unit to $1.07 per unit, an estimated $41 increase per billing cycle, based on Ohio Utility Rate Survey data.

Columbia Gas has also filed a preliminary proposal with PUCO for a three-year base rate increase starting in January 2028, The Columbus Dispatch reported. The base rate would jump $14.79 to $68.05 per month in 2028, with smaller increases in 2029 and 2030. A PUCO decision is not expected until summer 2027, according to a PUCO spokesperson. That proposal would not affect bills this winter.

JP Blackwood, a spokesman for the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, told Signal Ohio that rising commodity prices are the biggest driver of higher gas bills. "The PUCO-approved rate increases just make a bad situation worse," Blackwood said.

How to apply for energy assistance

Ohio's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) applications for the 2026-2027 season are open through May 31, 2027, according to BenefitsUSA and the Ohio LIHEAP state plan. Key details:

  • Income limit: Household income at or below 175% of federal poverty guidelines. That is $27,930 per year for one person, $37,870 for two, $47,810 for three and $57,750 for four.
  • Regular HEAP: A one-time credit applied to your heating bill. Benefits range from $31 to $546. Open July 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027.
  • Winter Crisis Program: Emergency help for households facing disconnection or with less than 25% of a tank of bulk fuel. Open Nov. 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Requires an appointment.
  • PIPP Plus: Customers of PUCO-regulated utilities can cap their bill at 5% of monthly household income per utility, with a $10 minimum. Applications accepted year-round.

Ohio has no asset test for HEAP. Savings, retirement accounts and homeownership do not disqualify applicants, according to BenefitsUSA.

Delaware County residents: where to go

Bridges Community Action Partnership handles HEAP applications for Delaware County. The Delaware County office is at 555 Sunbury Road, Delaware, OH 43015. The phone number is 740-369-3184. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed Fridays.

Regular HEAP can also be completed online at energyhelp.ohio.gov. Crisis applications require an in-person appointment.

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel lists additional utility-funded programs. Columbia Gas customers may qualify for the HeatShare Program, which provides up to $450 once per year for households at or below 300% of poverty guidelines. AEP Ohio customers can apply for the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program, which offers up to $500 for households at or below 300% of poverty guidelines.

County crisis funding is limited. BenefitsUSA noted that when Winter Crisis money for a county runs low, agencies stop scheduling appointments. Applying in November rather than waiting until February can make the difference between receiving help and landing on a waitlist.