Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Middlesex, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Middlesex families is Electricity, used by 610,876 homes (22%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (20%), Propane (5%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

Middlesex County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2026	1,483,713	134,558	634,170	544,416	28,375	10,548	24,323
2025	1,473,396	128,896	610,876	555,640	29,010	9,580	23,565
2024	1,472,791	124,926	578,927	572,376	29,933	9,004	21,569
2023	1,413,104	137,540	556,235	615,564	28,805	6,958	25,447
2022	1,443,888	131,253	509,852	627,332	30,194	6,361	26,280
2021	1,411,895	129,599	492,336	649,036	30,651	5,807	21,455
2020	1,398,855	113,994	470,610	647,570	31,378	4,678	21,500
2019	1,385,815	98,388	448,883	646,103	32,105	3,549	21,544
2018	1,374,460	92,227	434,646	657,583	28,621	3,078	20,618
2017	1,353,682	88,756	418,715	674,937	34,421	3,525	19,989
2016	1,332,610	81,858	405,055	688,925	35,051	2,421	19,478
2015	1,306,073	79,528	403,279	690,548	38,927	1,693	20,120
2014	1,310,713	77,135	371,616	703,760	41,999	825	21,307
2013	1,265,878	81,306	371,400	740,917	47,009	1,432	17,553
2012	1,249,253	68,517	365,060	772,641	43,393	487	14,495
2011	1,242,643	65,582	354,007	806,422	40,356	893	13,919
2010	1,234,502	70,046	341,806	810,266	38,813	880	14,235

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Middlesex

Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Middlesex. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil declined from 657,583 to 555,640, a 16% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Middlesex

Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 92,227 to 128,896, a 40% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 1,374,460 to 1,473,396, a 7% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Middlesex

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Middlesex. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 434,646 to 610,876, a 41% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Middlesex

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 9,580 homes in Middlesex are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 211% gain from 2018, when 3,078 homes utilized active solar heating.

Middlesex County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Middlesex County homeowners purchased a total of 108 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Middlesex’s overall heating oil usage varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Middlesex was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Middlesex County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	30° F
2023 - 2024	34.5° F

Middlesex County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Middlesex households heating with oil, choosing which of the 260 heating oil companies that serve Middlesex plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 4194 “full-service” oil companies that serve Middlesex. Full service companies such as Keohan Fuels & Transportation Inc or Absolute Oil offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Middlesex cash heating oil companies serving Middlesex include Ranco Enterpises Inc and Maria's Oil.

Middlesex Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Middlesex: 260 companies .

Average Number of Middlesex Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 2137

Middlesex Heating Oil Delivery Overview

555,640 homes in Middlesex heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Middlesex temperatures drop as low as 24.3° F each winter. 19.6% of Middlesex families are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.

9.8% of Middlesex County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Middlesex County Households	Middlesex County Heating Oil Households
5.6M	555,640

8177 Middlesex Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 582,115,838 gallons of oil delivered to Middlesex houses last winter, the Middlesex community looks to its 8177 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Middlesex, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Middlesex and the surrounding area.

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