The rising cost of staying warm

October 29, 2026 It's fall here in New Jersey, which means cold mornings and the heater running. We've already seen temperatures in the high 30s a few times. With colder weather on the way, we topped off our heating oil today. We took delivery of 150 gallons for $869.85. Back in December 2025, the same amount cost only $466.35, or $3.109 per gallon. That's an increase of $2.69 per gallon—an 86% jump in less than a year! Fortunately, we are in a position to absorb this increase. This will be a difficult winter for those who are barely getting by.