U.S. heating demand climbs 12% in December

U.S. heating demand in December rose 12 percent compared to 2023, according to the latest national weather data.  

The big picture: Nationwide heating demand in December hasn’t fluctuated much since 2020, with one exception in 2022, when it jumped 32 percent from the previous year. 

Details: The U.S. notched 725 Heating Degree Days (HDDs) in December 2024, according to data from the National Weather Service. 

• Refresher: HDDs measure heating demand by subtracting a day’s average temperature from 65 ℉.
• During the same month in 2023, the U.S. recorded 645 HDDs. 

Zoom in: The Northeast led the country with the biggest yearly increase, as heating demand grew 24 percent compared to December 2023. 

• Only two regions saw heating demand decrease: The “West South Central” region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas) and the Mountain region, indicating a warmer December than in 2023.  

What’s next: January’s heating numbers will be available in the first week of February.