Bangladesh, Nov. 7 -- As winter approaches, millions of American households are preparing for another season of rising energy costs. For many families, heating their homes could become an increasingly expensive burden. New England illustrates the problem particularly well. During the last winter, the regions wholesale electricity costs reached $6.53 billion, a 45 percent increase from the previous winter. Meanwhile, households relying on electric heating are expected to spend approximately $1,196 between November and March, up 4 percent.

These rising costs expose a fundamental weakness in Americas energy infrastructure. Cold weather increases demand for natural gas, while limited pipeline capacity restricts the amount of fuel that can re...