Natural gas prices dropped 55 cents this week after a couple of weeks where the price went up a few cents. Natural gas is used by the majority of Iowans to heat their homes, but Department of Agriculture fuels analyst Harold Hommes says current market conditions shouldn’t be a concern.
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He says the utility companies lock in those contracts to try to get the best prices. He says that takes the week-to-week fluctuations in prices out of the equation.
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But overall, Hommes says the biggest factor in the cost to heat homes is the weather and how far the temperature drops.
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There are some predictions that usage may be up this year with colder weather, leading to the corresponding increase in heating bills.