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Here's one more way the pandemic is hitting people's finances: New federal projections show higher winter heating bills, and COVID-19 is partly to blame.

Driving the news: Households that heat with gas, electricity and propane are expected to pay more on average this winter, while heating oil users may see lower bills, per an Energy Information Administration outlook.

The big picture: "More people are working and attending school from home this year, which EIA expects will increase demand for space heating at any given temperature relative to past winters," the agency said.

NOAA also is forecasting that this winter will be colder than 2019–2020, which would increase home heating needs, the report states.

COVID-19 will mean higher winter energy bills

The EIA expects an increase in demand for space heating relative to past winters.

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Here&#x27;s one more way the pandemic is hitting people&#x27;s finances: New federal projections show higher winter heating bills, and COVID-19 is partly to blame.Driving the news: Households that heat with gas, electricity and propane are expected to pay more on average this winter, while heating oil users may see lower bills, per an Energy Information Administration <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="outlook" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/21716699.68877/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWlhLmdvdi9vdXRsb29rcy9zdGVvLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2dlbmVyYXRlJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/5f3d5cb99cf19f7912231e9dC47f0b30b" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/21716699.68877/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWlhLmdvdi9vdXRsb29rcy9zdGVvLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2dlbmVyYXRlJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/5f3d5cb99cf19f7912231e9dC47f0b30b" target="_blank">outlook</a>.The big picture: &quot;More people are working and attending school from home this year, which EIA expects will increase demand for space heating at any given temperature relative to past winters,&quot; the agency said.<ul><li>NOAA also is forecasting that this winter will be colder than 2019–2020, which would increase home heating needs, the report states.</li></ul>

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Energy & Environment

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

COVID-19 will mean higher winter energy bills

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