HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Applications for winter heating assistance throughout New England are on the rise.

Connecticut officials have received three times the number they did by this time last year.

Vermont officials say they've received 25 percent more applications than a year ago.

The National Energy Information Center predicts the price of home heating oil in the Northeast will be higher than last year's average of $3.31 a gallon, and could reach $4.13 a gallon, but will fluctuate with the market.

Connecticut expects to disburse about $104 million to 90,600 households. That amount includes $95.5 million in federal energy assistance. Last year, 86,247 households in the state were eligible for the assistance.