Long Islanders could be in store for some good news as the chilly season sets in and they start using their home heating systems.

Analysts say it should cost less to heat homes this winter than it did last year for a number of factors. The chief reason is that the price of crude oil is down about $10 a barrel from this time last year.

Experts also expect this winter to be milder than the last.

Kevin Rooney, with the Oil Heat Institute of Long Island, says consumers will spend considerably less on heating this year, with average customers spending about 21 percent less than last year.

For those who use gas to heat their homes, National Grid says customers could see a 3 percent drop this winter over last year.

However, some homeowners who spoke with News 12 were skeptical about the cheaper projections. "I've been a homeowner for 30 years and I've seen the fluctuations up and down, and it never seems to be in the customer's favor," said Commack homeowner Barry Zuckerwise.