Heating your home shouldn't hurt your pocket - book as much as previously anticipated.

Since July, regional fuel oil prices have dropped by almost a dollar a gallon.

"At the peak in July the regionally average price for fuel oil was about $4.40 a gallon and as of last week that regional average was down to $3.60 cents a gallon," said Como Oil President John Heino.

He says propane prices are slightly down as well.

The company has reduced its heating prices by 30 - cents a gallon over the past two weeks.

"Back in July when crude oil prices were 147 dollars a barrel, there were a lot of people concerned that prices would continue to go up," said Heino.

But the economic crisis has left prices unstable across the board.
Heino says three things dictate the price of heating fuel:

The economy, winter and OPEC.

If the economy improves, fuel prices will likely rise again.

Demand for oil increases as the temperature drops.

So the colder the winter, the higher the prices.

On October 24th OPEC will decide whether to reduce oil output by one to two million barrels.

Heino says although these prices are lower, they're still historically high.
He does say, however, there are some things you can do to make sure that your bill is as low as possible.

"First get your furnace cleaned and checked.
A well tuned furnace will save you 10-15 percent on your heating bills," he said.

Winterizing your home is also important.

A programmable thermostat can save you up to 10 - percent.

Other tips include putting plastic on windows, applying weather stripping around doors, and keeping vents clear of obstructions.

There are a lot more tips for saving money on your heating bill.
Click Here For More Tips!