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Cities In Maine with Local Oil Prices

Cheapest Maine Heating Oil Price Trends

Time HorizonPrice Change
1 Week Trend-$0.039
1 Month Trend+$1.551
1 Year Trend+$1.100

Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Maine Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Households have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Maine, used by 298,426 or 48% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Maine homeowners is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Maine

Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Maine. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using heating oil fell from 333,900 to 298,426, a 11% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Maine

Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 52,621 to 101,382, a 93% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 41,879 to 53,178, a 27% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Maine

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Maine. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 33,543 to 92,432, a 176% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Maine

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, 3,526 homes in Maine are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1030% gain from 2016, when 312 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Maine Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Maine families heating with heating oil, picking which of the 125 heating oil companies that serve Maine can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 18 “full-service” oil companies that serve Maine. Full service companies such as Heatable or Heatable offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC 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 family 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Maine cash heating oil companies serving Maine include Welch Oil Llc Inc and Garthwaite Energy Inc.

Maine Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Maine: 125 companies .

Average Number of Maine Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 2387

Maine Heating Oil Delivery Overview

298,426 residences in Maine heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Maine temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Maine residences rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.

47.8% of Maine Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Maine HouseholdsMaine Heating Oil Households
623,907298,426

125 Maine Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 246,945,991 gallons of oil delivered to Maine residences the last heating season, the Maine community relies on its 125 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Maine, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Maine and the surrounding region.