SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Despite the conversations around increasing Shreveport residents’ water bills, the rising cost of household utilities is attributed to the winter storm.
A recent study revealed residents in America are projected to spend nearly 30% more on utilities this winter than before the pandemic.
States most impacted by rising heating costs this winter: Louisiana ranked third at +37.8%, Texas ranked 10th at 30.6%, and Arkansas ranked 17th with a 24.2% increase.
Over 64% of Louisiana households primarily heat their house with electricity; 32% heat their homes with natural gas; 2.2% use propane and 0.1% heating oil.
Electricity being Louisiana’s primary heating fuel, the study predicts the average monthly winter utility cost is $211, Texas’s $220 average, and Arkansas’s $253.
The study used the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends: covering and repairing windows to prevent heat loss from inside a home, particularly for those that are not insulated for cold weather.