HOUSTON — Opening up heating and electricity bills has been a bit of a shocker in recent weeks. Exactly how shocking became clear on Wednesday when the Energy Department released a report showing just how expensive it was to keep warm and cook dinner this winter.

Those living in mostly rural and Midwestern areas who depend on propane are expected to spend 54 percent more this winter than last. Those who rely on heating oil, largely in the Northeast, will be paying 7 percent more. Natural gas consumers will pay 10 percent more and electricity consumers will pay 5 percent more.

The department estimated that winter energy costs for heating with propane in the Midwest would be $2,212 a household, $759 more than it projected in October. It estimated that homes using heating oil would spend $2,243, $197 higher than it had projected.

Economists have warned that the increased heating fuel prices are taking dollars out of the wallets of consumers who otherwise might spend their money on clothes and restaurants. But the impact is probably going to be neutralized at least in part by the decline in gasoline prices, which this winter have averaged about 25 cents a gallon less than last year.