You might not be thinking about the cold months ahead, but state officials have said now is a good time to be thinking about staying warm this winter, especially if you heat your home with propane.
According to the Michigan Public Service Commission, the state leads the country in total residential propane consumption, with more than 8 percent of households using propane as their primary heating source.
Spokesperson with the commission, Nick Assendelft said now is the best time to shop propane while the demand is low.
“I think it’s just good to make sure they talk to the suppliers that supply that area and see who might have the best prices, see what kind of commitments they can lock in in terms of being supplied in the winter,” Assendelft said.
The price of propane was averaging 2.001 dollars a gallon in March of this year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Assendelft said the prices may be more reasonable now compared to what the prices could be during the winter months.
He said propane use is significantly higher in rural Michigan, with 18 percent of U.P. residents using propane and 24 percent of residents in the northern part of the lower peninsula.
Assendelft said heating season starts October 1.