Winter Heating Costs 2026-27: What Utah and Idaho Renters Should Expect

Sweater weather is here, and so is the question every renter asks around this time of year: how big will my heating bill be? The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) just released its 2026-27 Winter Fuels Outlook, and for those of us in the West, the forecast calls for a little extra fluff on the ducky. Here's how to keep your bill from quacking you up.

What EIA Expects This Winter (November to March)

EIA's forecast depends on how your home is heated. Here are the national averages from its October 2026 household heating table:

• Natural gas: about $640 for the winter, down about 9 percent from last winter.
• Electricity: about $1,196, up about 4 percent. More than 40 percent of U.S. homes heat mainly with electricity, according to EIA.
• Propane: about $1,246, down about 3 percent.
• Heating oil: about $2,115, up about 21 percent, with prices forecast near $5.26 a gallon. The good news for our area is that heating oil is used in only about 3 percent of homes, mostly in the Northeast.

Why the West Is the Odd Duck This Year

Utah, Idaho, and Arizona sit in the Census Bureau's West region, and EIA expects a much colder winter in the West after an unusually warm one last year. Its forecast shows about 25 percent more heating degree days (a measure of how much heating homes need) in the West than last winter. That cold snap cancels out cheaper fuel prices:

• Western natural gas homes: about $590, up about 7 percent, while the national average falls.
• Western electric-heat homes: about $1,151, up about 9 percent, the largest electricity increase of any region.
• If it turns out 10 percent colder than forecast: EIA's West estimate for natural gas homes jumps to about $637, up roughly 16 percent.

Translation: if you rent in Pocatello or Idaho Falls, plan for a chillier, pricier winter than last year. Even St. George renters with electric heat pumps should budget a bit more.

Renter Tips to Keep Your Bill From Going South for the Winter

• Check your lease. It should say who pays gas, power, water, and trash. "Utilities included" can be a real money saver in a cold year.
• Ask for past bills before you sign. A landlord or utility can often share the unit's average winter costs. A cheap rent with a huge January gas bill is no bargain.
• Report drafts early. Leaky windows, broken weatherstripping, or a furnace that won't keep up are worth flagging now, not in January.
• Protect your stuff. Renters insurance can help with your belongings if a frozen pipe floods your place. Ask your agent what's covered.
• Build cozy habits. Lower the thermostat at night, open blinds on sunny days, and keep vents clear of furniture.

Help Is Available in Utah and Idaho

Utah's HEAT program opened applications on October 1 for households with someone 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child under six, and regular applications open November 1, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Applicants need recent utility bills, and renters whose utilities are included in rent can submit their lease or a landlord statement, per the HEAT application instructions. In Washington County, the Five County Association of Governments in St. George handles applications.

In Idaho, LIHEAP runs through local Community Action Agencies. Priority households can apply in October, and everyone else can apply starting in November, per the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Funding is first come, first served.

The Bottom Line

Cheaper fuel is helping most of the country, but a colder West means Utah and Idaho renters should plan ahead. Before you sign your next lease, compare not just the rent but the heat. Search rentals on RentDuck for free and find a place that keeps you warm without ruffling your feathers.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Winter Fuels Outlook 2026-27 and Table WF01, October 2026; EIA, Today in Energy, October 7, 2026; EIA, press release, October 6, 2026; Utah Department of Workforce Services, FY27 HEAT/LIHEAP notice and HEAT application instructions; Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, About Heating Assistance.