Winter’s heating oil costs climb

SPRINGFIELD – The cost of heating an average home with oil for a year is expected to top $3,000 in 2009, according to a study released Monday by The Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts.

“It’s going to be a pretty serious problem this winter,” said Michael D. Goodman, director of economic and public policy research for the institute. The report covers the calendar year of Jan. 1, 2009, to Dec. 31, 2009.


The institute predicts that the price of oil will rise 10.75 percent from 2008 to 2009.

The report also shows that two-thirds of the households in the state that will be severely burdened by heating expenses next year are headed by someone older than 60.

The Republican