Southwest Cuyahoga-area residents heating with natural gas could catch a break on fuel costs this winter, but rising utility rates and electric prices may still push monthly bills higher.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) 2026-27 Winter Fuels Outlook projects that Midwest households heating with natural gas will spend about 10% less this season than last, thanks to lower fuel prices and temperatures similar to last year. Nationally, natural gas heated homes can expect to pay an average of $640 over the five-month heating season, down 9%.

The picture is different for homes heated with electricity. The EIA forecasts a 4% increase in winter electricity bills nationally, driven by a 3% rise in residential electricity prices. 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, while households that rely on heating oil face higher prices because distillate markets remain tight," 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 Northeast Ohio customers.

FirstEnergy asked state regulators to approve a three-year distribution rate plan that would add an estimated $11.73 per month to a Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. (CEI) residential customer's bill in the first year, cleveland.com reported. The company's filings list smaller monthly increases of $1.79 in the second year and $2.44 in the third year. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) staff report is due Nov. 30, with an evidentiary hearing scheduled for March 1, 2027. The application covers FirstEnergy's three Ohio utilities: CEI, Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison.

On the gas side, Enbridge Gas serves roughly 1.2 million customers in the Cleveland area. A Signal Ohio analysis published in February found that Enbridge customers' monthly bills rose from $63 in January 2020 to $79 in January 2026, based on Ohio Utility Rate Survey data. JP Blackwood, a spokesman for the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, told Signal Ohio that rising commodity prices are the biggest driver, though PUCO-approved distribution rate increases "just make a bad situation worse."

NOPEC, the nonprofit that buys electricity in bulk for 240 Northeast Ohio communities, also raised its rates. Its standard electric price rose from 8.999 cents per kilowatt-hour to 9.999 cents starting with June 2026 meter reads, Cleveland 19 reported in March.

How to apply for energy assistance

Ohio runs the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) under the name 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. The state plan lists benefits ranging 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 with your county's Energy Assistance Provider.
  • PIPP Plus: Customers of PUCO-regulated utilities who qualify can cap their bill at 5% of monthly household income per utility, with a $10 minimum. Applications accepted year-round.
  • How to apply: Online at energyhelp.ohio.gov, by mail to the Office of Community Assistance in Columbus, or in person at your local Energy Assistance Provider. Regular HEAP can be completed entirely online. Crisis applications require an in-person appointment.

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

Additional utility programs

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel lists several utility-funded programs. FirstEnergy customers can apply for the OPAE Fuel Fund, which provides up to $250 for households at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. The Illuminating Co. customers can also contact the Salvation Army at 216-861-8185 for the Community Outreach Opportunity Program, which offers up to $200.

Enbridge Gas customers may qualify for the Heat Care program, which provides up to $300. That program requires household income at or below 300% of poverty guidelines and runs Dec. 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, or until funds run out.

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