DeKALB — Consumers may no longer have reason to fear an early snowfall this winter. Experts are forecasting a drop in U.S. heating bill prices.

Jose Villar, industry economist for the Energy Information Administration, said the EIA is anticipating a U.S. average heating cost of $12.23 per thousand cubic feet, down 16.4 percent from last winter, when the price was $14.64 per thousand cubic feet.

In the Midwest, the EIA is anticipating an average price of $11.01 per thousand cubic feet, a 17.6 percent decrease from last year’s price of $13.37.

“We are expecting a decrease in prices and slightly increased consumption,” Villar said. “Overall, there should be a smaller energy bill than last year.”

EIA statistician Roy Kass said weather influences heating prices the most.

“If weather is warmer then normal, you use less gas,” Kass said. “Weather affects the heating bill a lot more than per-unit price.”

NIU staff meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste predicts above average temperatures and below average precipitation because of El Nino.

“Temperatures should be cooler than last year, but above average,” Sebenste said. “[It was] mostly because last winter was the warmest on record.”

The overall temperature a house maintains also affects the bill.

“If a gas bill is less expensive, the bill might still be higher because they’re burning more,” Kass said. “One way to reduce the bill is to turn down the thermostat.”