Granted, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the news report...BUT...what I remember most was that (at least in the Phila., PA area), most of those folks that had extremely higher than normal heating bills had much to do with switching to a third party vendor. So I'm going to guess, mark ups, middle men, etc. One station's 'consumer reporter' apparently was able to get some folks relief.
For us, our last bill was relatively normal despite a very frigid winter hear. We heat with natural gas. Propane prices, I know, have gone through the roof.
Stay as warm as you can!