It will cost more to stay warm this winter, according to heating bill projections NIPSCO released today.

Based on current market projections and assuming normal winter weather, bills for natural gas residential customers could be 16% higher than last winter, the utility company said.

Over the five-month winter heating season that starts in November, NIPSCO's average natural gas residential customers using 625 therms could expect to pay about $665. That's $90 more – or an additional $18 a month – from the $575 that would have been paid during the previous winter, a news release said.

The Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC and other energy companies provide a forecast each year, preparing homeowners of what to expect.

Projections are based on market forecasts, supply trends and

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