Winter heating costs seen rising 22 percent

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com Government: Cold winter is predicted; seasonal cost for heating fuel to soar NEW YORK - It’s going to be a much more expensive winter for households that depend on heating oil, the government predicted Tuesday, while those that use natural gas should experience only moderate price increases. Heating oil customers will pay an average of $319, or 22 percent, more this winter than last in large part because of soaring crude oil prices, the Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration estimated. Natural gas customers are forecast to pay $78, or 10 percent, more for heat between October and March.