Cost of Heating This Winter Still Up in the Air

(Undated) -- The cost of monthly heating bills this winter may be hard to predict. Geoff Greenwood with MidAmerican Energy says there are a few factors.

"Your monthly heating bill could be close to what it was last year," Greenwood says. "Or, it could be higher. It all depends on our temperatures."

Another factor is the price of natural gas, which he says is down. He says temperatures were warmer last winter, which could mean this year will cost more if it's closer to the average.

"If we see normal winter temperatures this season, it would be cooler than last winter," Greenwood says. "And you would probably use more natural gas to stay comfortable."

And he says this year's forecast is still up in the air.

"That forecast is pretty iffy," Greenwood says. "It's about a 50/50 chance of it being cooler than a normal winter, or warmer than a normal winter."