SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- As winter temperatures drop, heating oil prices are spiking. In just one month, the cost has jumped 44 cents a gallon, and with another cold snap coming this weekend, local families are bracing for even higher bills.

Western Mass News is getting answers on what’s driving the increase and what you can do about it.

Heating oil customers are feeling the pinch, with some seeing an increase of about 50-60 dollars every time you fill a typical tank.

One Western Mass News viewer reached out to our newsroom asking, “[It was] 3.14 dollars a gallon on Dec. 31st, and now [Tuesday] it’s at 3.58 dollars a gallon for oil. Why is it going up when gas is going down?”

We took that question to Noonan Energy in Springfield, where Director of Sales Tim Noonan says they’re hearing the same concern from customers.

“We had a customer call yesterday that said, you know, gas prices are going down, why are oil prices going up? But there are two different things. The gas prices tend to go up around Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, where, you know, oil prices usually go up in the winter, but not every winter. I’ve seen some winters where they have actually come down in the winter too,” Noonan explains.

Noonan says since January; prices have jumped 40-50 cents per gallon. The reason? A Mix of higher demand during cold weather and global events that affect oil prices worldwide.

Unfortunately, with more frigid temperatures expected this weekend, those prices could climb even higher. So, what can you do to lower your bill?

Noonan tells us, “Well, they can turn the thermostat down and wear sweaters and sweatshirts. You know, some people are comfortable doing that. Others still aren’t happy doing that. So, if you want to lower the price, lower the consumption, you know, you’d have to turn the thermostat down.”

However, Noonan warns: Don’t go much below 62-65 degrees.

If you lose power, your home’s temperature will drop much faster, putting your pipes at risk. With the extreme cold, Noonan Energy has seen a huge increase in demand, so he recommends being on automatic delivery to make sure you always get your oil when you need it.

Now, this viewer also noticed gas prices going down, but in Hampshire County, that may not be the case for long.

Western Mass News is getting answers as to why; coming up tonight at 6.

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