High Heating Costs Predicted

Even with a normal winter, consumers are likely to spend an average of $190 to $240 more this year to heat their homes if they use natural gas or oil, an Energy Department report predicted Friday.

With an expectation that colder weather will return this year after three unusually mild winters, the report said a long cold spell could strain supplies of natural gas and heating oil despite the introduction of emergency oil supplies from a government reserve.

Still, most customers should be able to get oil and natural gas, the report indicated.