Higher gas prices and heating costs will hurt low-income families the most this winter
Last month, several senators called on the Biden administration to take action to lower energy costs. Specifically, they urged the administration to increase supply of natural gas and home heating oil by limiting natural gas exports and releasing inventory from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
The senators are right to call for this. As they note, the outlook for the coming winter heating season is looking increasingly grim for consumers. Rapidly increasing demand for energy is continuing to outpace supply as the economy recovers from the pandemic, and energy prices for home heating — as well as gasoline for transportation — are going up across the board.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has forecast that home heating costs for families using natural gas could increase by up to 30% this winter as compared to last winter's heating season, a change from $573 to $746. For those using home heating oil this winter, costs could increase by as much as 43%, from $1,210 to $1,734. Gasoline prices have already gone up to $3.41 a gallon, $1.31 more per gallon since last year. Bank of America recently predicted that the price of crude oil, which drives the price of gasoline, could go up another 45% by June of next year.
Luckily, as the senators note, the administration has the option to release oil from the SPR, the federal stockpile of petroleum that mitigates against future supply disruptions. It was established in 1975 after the Arab oil embargo of 1973-74, which caused the average price of imported crude oil to triple. Releasing oil from the SPR could help to lower gas prices and heating oil costs. And suspending natural gas exports could reduce pressure on natural gas prices in the US.
While these efforts alone might not be sufficient to significantly reduce prices, taken as whole, they will send a strong signal to the markets that the administration is serious about addressing high energy prices.
The President has pressured OPEC and Russia to increase oil supply beyond already agreed upon targets, saying that the rise in gasoline prices was "a consequence" of Russia and OPEC nations refusing to pump more oil. His efforts have been unsuccessful, but he should not let up the pressure. Increased production would help to reduce the price of crude oil and thereby take pressure off of gasoline and heating oil prices.
Climate activists have criticized calls for increased production because they want to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels. Reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels is an important long-term goal, but no climate change policy implemented today will help lower the cost next month for families that need to drive to work and keep their homes warm this winter. The short-term impact of rising prices falls hardest on lower-income families who are more likely to be frontline workers and have fewer options to save money on gasoline because they cannot work from home.
In the long term, we need to increase the energy efficiency of the residential sector to reduce demand for fossil fuels, especially for low-income families who struggle to pay their energy bills and cannot afford home energy efficiency upgrades. For these families, Congress should increase funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The US Department of Energy estimates that for every dollar invested in WAP, the program generates $1.72 in energy-related benefits and $2.78 in other benefits, such as reduced health care costs resulting from a more livable home.
If the administration and Congress do not take immediate action to reduce winter heating costs, already struggling families will suffer even more, both at the gas pump and when trying to stay warm this winter.
今年冬天，更高的天然气价格和取暖成本将对低收入家庭的伤害最大
上个月，几位参议员呼吁拜登政府采取行动降低能源成本。具体而言，他们敦促政府通过限制天然气出口和释放战略石油储备（SPR）库存来增加天然气和家用取暖油的供应。
参议员呼吁这样做是正确的。正如他们所指出的，即将到来的冬季取暖季的前景对消费者来说越来越严峻。随着经济从大流行中复苏，对能源的快速增长的需求继续超过供应，家庭取暖的能源价格以及用于运输的汽油价格全面上涨。
美国能源信息署 (EIA) 预测，与去年冬天的取暖季节相比，今年冬天使用天然气的家庭的家庭取暖成本可能增加多达 30%，从 573 美元增加到 746 美元。对于今年冬天使用家用取暖油的人来说，成本可能会增加多达 43%，从 1,210 美元增加到 1,734 美元。汽油价格已经上涨至每加仑 3.41 美元，自去年以来每加仑上涨 1.31 美元。美国银行最近预测，推动汽油价格的原油价格到明年 6 月可能再上涨 45%。
幸运的是，正如参议员们指出的那样，政府可以选择从 SPR 中释放石油，SPR 是联邦石油储备，可以缓解未来的供应中断。它成立于 1975 年，在 1973-74 年阿拉伯石油禁运后，导致进口原油平均价格翻了三倍。从 SPR 中释放石油有助于降低天然气价格和取暖油成本。暂停天然气出口可以减轻美国天然气价格的压力。
虽然仅靠这些努力可能不足以显着降低整体价格，但它们将向市场发出强烈信号，表明政府对解决高能源价格是认真的。
总统已向欧佩克和俄罗斯施压，要求将石油供应增加到超出已商定的目标，并表示汽油价格上涨是俄罗斯和欧佩克国家拒绝增产的“后果”。他的努力没有成功，但他不应该放松压力。增产将有助于降低原油价格，从而减轻汽油和取暖油价格的压力。
气候活动家批评了增加产量的呼吁，因为他们希望大幅减少化石燃料的使用。减少该国对化石燃料的依赖是一个重要的长期目标，但今天实施的气候变化政策将有助于降低下个月需要开车上班并在这个冬天保持房屋温暖的家庭的成本。价格上涨的短期影响对低收入家庭的影响最大，他们更有可能成为一线工人，而且由于无法在家工作，因此在汽油上省钱的选择更少。
从长远来看，我们需要提高住宅部门的能源效率，以减少对化石燃料的需求，特别是对于难以支付能源费用且无法负担家庭能源效率升级的低收入家庭。对于这些家庭，国会应该增加对天气援助计划 (WAP) 的资助，以提高他们家庭的能源效率。美国能源部估计，在 WAP 上投资的每一美元，该计划会产生 1.72 美元的能源相关收益和 2.78 美元的其他收益，例如因房屋更宜居而降低医疗保健成本。
如果政府和国会不立即采取行动降低冬季取暖成本，已经陷入困境的家庭将遭受更多的痛苦，无论是在加油站还是在今年冬天试图取暖时。
