You're thinking about air conditioning. But if you're one of the roughly 85,000 Westchester households that heat with oil — about one in four homes in the county — this is the week the real money decision lands.

Here's why. Heating oil dealers sell their pre-buy and price-cap contracts in June and July, for the winter ahead. You lock in a price months before the first cold night. Every summer the question is the same: lock in, or float and take the market price come winter. This year it's harder than it's been in a long time.

Global oil markets are in the largest supply disruption on record. The conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — the channel roughly 20% of the world's oil passes through — have pushed crude sharply higher. The U.S. gas average crossed $4 a gallon this spring and kept climbing. New York heating oil is already running about $4.10 to $4.80 a gallon.

Why it matters: The households most exposed are also the least protected. New York's energy-affordability cap — the 6% provision in the NY HEAT debate — excludes delivered fuels, so heating oil gets no state backstop. And about 21% of county households already spend more than 6% of their income on energy.

What to do: get quotes now, read the cap-price fine print, and remember fall heating-assistance programs do cover oil. Listen to the full story on The Westchester Brief.

QUICK HITS

Early voting starts Saturday. Early voting in the June 23 primary begins June 13. Democratic voters in two county legislative districts — one covering Bronxville, Eastchester, and part of Yonkers, the other entirely in Yonkers — choose nominees for the Board of Legislators. Your site and hours are on the county Board of Elections website.

Find the cheapest oil before you sign. The county Office of Consumer Protection keeps a running list of local heating-oil and gas prices. Comparing dealers before you lock a pre-buy contract can be worth hundreds of dollars over one winter.

Playland is back for season 98. The county-owned Rye park is open Wednesday through Sunday through Labor Day, with the restored Dragon Coaster running again after sitting idle all of last year.

ONE MORE THING

Are you on oil, gas, or electric heat — and are you locking in a price this summer or rolling the dice? Hit reply. We're tracking how Westchester households are handling the squeeze.

Know a neighbor on oil heat? Forward this and tell them to subscribe at iliveherewestchester.com.

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