Winter heating bills: gas households save 9% while heating oil jumps 21% on a thin storage cushion

Natural gas inventories entered the final stretch before heating season with a deficit to last year, and the fuel that heats 46% of American homes is now priced for a tighter winter than the one before it. The Energy Information Administration reported on October 15 that working gas in storage stood at 3,567 Bcf as of October 9, up 67 Bcf on the week but still 143 Bcf below the same point in 2025 and just 45 Bcf above the five year average of 3,522 Bcf.

Key Takeaways Working natural gas storage was 3,567 Bcf on October 9, 143 Bcf below a year ago, per the EIA's October 15 report. The 67 Bcf weekly injection missed the 73 to 77 Bcf consensus, a bullish surprise that tightened the supply and de…