Haverford and Radnor township households that heat with oil face a projected 31% price spike for the 2026–2027 season. Average bills could reach about $2,300, up from roughly $1,800 during the 2025–2026 season, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), as first reported by CBS News.
About 82% of the nearly 4.8 million U.S. homes that rely on heating oil sit in the Northeast, meaning Radnor and Haverford residents will feel the increase directly.
Overall household heating costs are projected to rise about 8.7% for the season, 6abc reported Monday, Sept. 28. But oil-heat customers face the steepest hit. Brent crude traded near $106 a barrel in mid-September 2026, up more than 30% since the U.S.-Iran conflict erupted in late February. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure have also thinned global supply, according to NEADA executive director Mark Wolfe.
In Havertown, Patrick Boyle has watched oil markets from inside the family business his grandfather founded in 1937. Boyle is president of Boyle Energy, an oil delivery and HVAC company at 40 W. Manoa Road that serves Haverford, Radnor and surrounding communities.
Boyle told 6abc that price-cap programs can shield customers from sudden spikes. Under Boyle Energy's plan, customers pay a fee and lock in a ceiling price for the season. If the market drops below the cap, they pay the lower rate.
"It takes that anxiety out of, 'oh man, the price oil's gonna go through the roof,'" Boyle told 6abc.
Havertown resident Mark Carden, a Boyle Energy price-cap customer, compared the program to an insurance policy. He said knowing his costs will stay in a set range helps during uncertain times.
Boyle Energy also offers a budget payment plan that spreads the estimated annual oil cost over 10 equal monthly installments from August through May each year, rather than concentrating bills in the coldest months.
Heating system maintenance matters too. Scheduling an annual tune-up before cold weather arrives keeps equipment running efficiently and can trim fuel use, according to the 6abc report.
Help for lower-income households
Pennsylvania's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) opens for the 2026–2027 season on Monday, Nov. 2. Cash grants range from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income and fuel type. The grant goes directly to the utility or fuel provider and does not have to be repaid.
Income limits for the new season: $23,940 for a single-person household, $32,460 for two people and $49,500 for a family of four, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Delaware County residents can apply online at compass.dhs.pa.gov, by calling the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095 or in person at the county assistance office at 701 Crosby St., Suite A, Chester. The local LIHEAP line is 610-447-3099, according to Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
An El Niño weather pattern could bring warmer-than-normal conditions during the 2026–2027 season, which NEADA says may partially offset the price increases by reducing the amount of fuel burned.
