About one in four Macon County homes heats with propane. It starts the heating season costing more than it did a year ago.
Missouri's average residential propane price was $2.129 a gallon on Oct. 12, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly survey. That is about 19 cents, or 9.5 percent, more than the $1.944 average the same week in 2025. It is also up nearly 7 cents from the survey's first reading of this season, $2.061 on Oct. 5.
About 1,483 of Macon County's 6,067 occupied homes, or 24.4 percent, use bottled, tank, or LP gas as their main heating fuel, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimates for 2020 through 2024. Statewide, the share is 8.4 percent.
EIA expects the price to ease. Its Winter Fuels Outlook, released Oct. 6, forecasts that Midwest households heating mainly with propane will pay an average of $2.04 a gallon from November through March, down 3 percent from last winter. The agency expects those homes to spend about $1,305 for the season, down 4 percent.
The forecast has a typical propane-heated Midwest home burning about 641 gallons this winter. At the Oct. 12 Missouri price, that much propane would cost about $1,365.
Weather can swing the bill either way. NOAA's winter outlook, released Oct. 15, favors warmer-than-average temperatures for the Midwest and the Mississippi Valley from December through February, with a very strong El Niño in place. EIA's own forecast assumes Midwest temperatures close to last winter's and says the El Niño pattern "could lead to large temperature variations from our forecast."
Propane prices also move faster than utility rates. EIA says changes in wholesale propane and heating oil prices are usually fully reflected in retail prices within four to six weeks, because those markets are not regulated the way natural gas and electricity rates are.
Electricity is the most common heating fuel in the county, used in about 2,309 homes, or 38.1 percent. EIA forecasts Midwest homes that heat with electricity will spend about $1,380 this winter, up 3 percent, as electricity prices rise about 4 percent.
About 1,829 homes, or 30.1 percent, use utility gas. Macon Municipal Utilities supplies natural gas in Macon. EIA expects Midwest homes heating with natural gas to spend about $613 this winter, down 10 percent. Those are regional averages.
Another 363 homes, about 6 percent, heat mainly with wood. Statewide, 2.4 percent do. Heating oil, which EIA expects to cost 34 percent more nationally this winter, heats about three Macon County homes, by the Census estimate.
Macon County sits in the middle of its neighbors on propane use. By the same Census estimates, Knox County has the highest share of homes heating mainly with propane, at 30.5 percent, followed by Chariton County at 29.5 percent and Monroe County at 24.5 percent. Macon County, at 24.4 percent, comes next, ahead of Shelby County at 23.3 percent, Linn County at 21.8 percent, Adair County at 17.1 percent and Randolph County at 12.6 percent.
The Census figures come from a survey sample. The margin of error for Macon County's propane count is about 156 homes.
Low-income households can apply for help through the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. In Macon County, the program is handled by the Northeast Community Action Corporation, or NECAC, based in Bowling Green, according to the Missouri Department of Social Services. Its phone number is 573-564-4002.
Energy Assistance is a one-time payment toward one heating or cooling fuel between October and May. The Energy Crisis Intervention Program helps households with a disconnect notice or, for propane users, a tank filled to less than 20%. Winter crisis help runs November through May, as funding allows, and tops out at $800, according to DSS.
To qualify, monthly household income must be at or below $2,942 for one person, $3,847 for two, $4,752 for three, or $5,657 for four, according to the department's chart dated Oct. 1. Households also must have $3,000 or less in bank, retirement, or investment accounts.
Applications are available online at mydss.mo.gov, by mail, or in person through NECAC. DSS says it reviews applications within about 30 business days.