The Winter Energy Appraisal for this year has been released, and it shows high natural gas prices but also high diesel prices.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is still straining natural gas supplies around the world, but an energy expert says the U.S. has made it through the worst of the gasoline shortages.
The pandemic caused a lot of natural gas providers shut their doors because of lower use and higher expenses, and they need time to resume operations, said Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission.
"I don’t think it’ll stay where it is together, so more than triple, and it’s hard to tell exactly where in between those it’ll settle," he said. "But I think the days of historical low gas prices are over for the foreseeable future.
Gasoline prices will drop next year from around $3.80 per gallon to $3.40, he said. Also, propane increased by quote “pennies” and electricity around a dollar.
Diesel is different, he said. The MPSC is not sure what is driving up those prices.
“Folks have pointed to some global issues here, too, that some of that diesel that could be used for home heating or sort of trucking is being shipped overseas," he said. "Same sort of global factures here. I think that explains part of it, but I don’t know if it tells the full story. But I’ll tell you, I’m not sure what the full story is here.”
If anyone is struggling with home heating costs, Scripps said to contact the MPSC or 211 to find help.