Donald Whitacre returns to his truck after pumping 200 gallons of home heating oil into a customer’s tank in Winchester, Va., earlier this year. (Jeff Taylor / AP)

“The government forecast Tuesday that most households will pay more for heat this winter. Heating oil users will catch a slight break, but still pay near-record prices to keep warm.

“Prices for natural gas, electricity and propane should be higher, the primary reason that more than 90 percent of homes will incur higher heating expenses.

“Natural gas users will see the biggest percentage increase after two years of historically low prices. Their heating bills should rise to an average of $679, the Energy Department said in its annual outlook for heating costs. That is about 13 percent higher than a year ago but still 4 percent below the average for the previous five winters.

“Homes relying on electricity for heat, about 38 percent of the U.S., will likely pay about 2 percent more compared with last year.

“For heating oil customers, there is good news and bad news in the Energy Department’s annual outlook for heating

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