How to Cut Your Winter Energy Bills

A combination of higher fuel prices and colder-than-usual weather is expected to push the average U.S. household's heating costs up 10%, to a total $975 for October through March, according to the Energy Information Administration's Winter Fuels Outlook. The exact increase depends largely on the kind of fuel you use. Consumers warming up with home heating oil should expect to spend 22% more; propane, 16%; natural gas, 10%; and electricity, 4%.

But that's only part of the problem. Those higher prices mean you'll also pay more for lighting and powering everything in your home. Given the EPA's estimates that heating accounts for 50% of your bills, lighting for 25% and appliances, 25%, your total winter energy bills for October through March could top $1,900.

Worse, the projections come on the heels of a scorching summer — and hotter than normal fall — that prompted many consumers to keep their air-conditioners on full blast. (As recently as Oct. 9, more than 30 cities nationwide set new records as temperatures soared to the 80s and 90s.) "Traditionally, this is a transitional season where people aren't using heating or cooling, so we're off to a bad start," says Rozanne Weismann, a spokeswoman for the Alliance to Save Energy.

Consumers will get a little help from a one-week extension of Daylight Saving Time in November, and by springing back into it a week earlier in March, per guidelines in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that take effect this year. "The idea is that it's supposed to help decrease energy costs because it's lighter longer," says Jennifer Thorne Amman, a senior associate with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. "But it is only two extra weeks."

To more effectively keep your winter energy bills in check, you'll need to take action now. Try these five tricks to cut your costs by up to 30%:

Electric and Natural Gas. Consumers in 18 states have the option to buy their power from a supplier other than their public utility. While you're still receiving service from your public utility company, which controls the lines, you're purchasing the power itself from another supplier, says Vargas. (For tips on assessing your options, click here.)

Heating Oil and Propane. Which company fills your tank is entirely up to you. Consider fuel co-ops, whose bulk-buying enables members to lock in discounts. Members of Heat USA a home heating oil group in the Northeast, typically save 15 to 25 cents per gallon off full-service providers' prices. Not interested in a seasonal contract? Call individual suppliers for price quotes. The Propane Education & Research Council, a trade group, keeps a database of propane suppliers here. Heating oil providers are a bit harder to find. For tips, plus more ways to pay less for heating oil, click here.

Turn on your ceiling fan. Flip the switch to "reverse," then let 'er rip. "Fans help redistribute warm air, pushing it back down," says Amman.

Let the sun shine in. Literally. "Sun shining in your windows provides natural warmth," says Weismann. Leave your curtains open during the day — provided, of course, that you have already sealed up any window drafts.