Americans’ heating bills rose in December.

According to government statistics, it was the third-highest home heating demand for any December on record. Cold weather across the nation boosted the total spent on home heating to $10.8 billion. The average home heating bill was $150.71, or $18.59 more than normal, according to the report. That was about $41 more than December, 1984, when milder weather prevailed. Last December’s weather was similar to that of December, 1983, the most recent very cold December, according to the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, which analyzed records dating back 55 years.