Why the Iran War Will Make Heating Oil More Expensive for Some This Winter

Jonathan Robidoux, a Long Island resident, calls his heating oil supplier every fall to have his tank filled for the coming winter. He spent $1,200 on the fuel last winter.

This year, he will likely pay a lot more.

The price of heating oil, a fuel that is very similar to the diesel used in trucks, is up roughly 60 percent since Israel and the United States started attacking Iran on Feb. 28.

The war has sent oil and fuel prices soaring, leaving Mr. Robidoux and many others facing difficult financial decisions. About 3 percent of U.S. households use heating oil, and most of them live in the Northeast or Alaska.

Mr. Robidoux, who rents a home in New Hyde Park, N.Y., is trying to decide if he should buy heating oil now or wait until the weather gets colder, in the hope that prices will drop.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/business/energy-environment/heating-oil-winter-iran-war.html