Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Kennebec Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Kennebec, used by 298,426 or 48% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Kennebec 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%).
Kennebec County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 56,154 | 108,059 | 99,960 | 293,815 | 65,168 | 3,873 | 9,806 |
| 2025 | 53,178 | 101,382 | 92,432 | 298,426 | 65,496 | 3,526 | 9,422 |
| 2024 | 51,248 | 98,171 | 83,361 | 309,159 | 59,610 | 3,144 | 8,226 |
| 2023 | 51,811 | 84,744 | 79,160 | 323,666 | 57,999 | 2,137 | 12,767 |
| 2022 | 48,991 | 84,304 | 63,901 | 339,456 | 51,998 | 1,704 | 11,224 |
| 2021 | 47,952 | 78,322 | 61,019 | 345,133 | 46,227 | 1,374 | 10,375 |
| 2020 | 46,351 | 73,782 | 54,514 | 345,001 | 50,077 | 1,210 | 9,402 |
| 2019 | 44,750 | 69,241 | 48,008 | 344,869 | 53,927 | 1,047 | 8,428 |
| 2018 | 44,328 | 61,194 | 41,759 | 355,904 | 54,843 | 1,169 | 8,683 |
| 2017 | 41,841 | 61,816 | 36,406 | 331,541 | 54,454 | 1,228 | 10,328 |
| 2016 | 41,879 | 52,621 | 33,543 | 333,900 | 55,290 | 312 | 11,584 |
| 2015 | 37,624 | 50,511 | 35,138 | 336,337 | 70,767 | 604 | 11,270 |
| 2014 | 37,608 | 48,027 | 28,040 | 342,185 | 78,214 | 451 | 11,692 |
| 2013 | 31,836 | 45,601 | 28,747 | 351,842 | 76,707 | 486 | 9,827 |
| 2012 | 28,621 | 41,477 | 23,260 | 374,110 | 76,225 | 635 | 6,995 |
| 2011 | 27,427 | 42,224 | 24,723 | 379,409 | 68,055 | 307 | 6,480 |
| 2010 | 23,135 | 36,617 | 27,813 | 384,021 | 65,520 | 446 | 5,177 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Kennebec
Heating oil has become less popular in Kennebec. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of families using fuel oil fell from 351,842 to 298,426, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Kennebec
Between 2013 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 45,601 to 101,382, a 122% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 31,836 to 53,178, a 67% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Kennebec
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Kennebec. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 28,747 to 92,432, a 222% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Kennebec
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. As it stands today, 3,526 homes in Kennebec are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 626% gain from 2013, when 486 homes used active solar heating.
Kennebec County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Kennebec County homeowners purchased a total of 25 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Kennebec’s overall heating oil use changes from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Kennebec was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Kennebec County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.6° F |
Kennebec County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Kennebec homes heating with oil, selecting which of the 17 heating oil companies that serve Kennebec is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 12 “full-service” oil companies that serve Kennebec. Full service companies such as MA Haskell Fuel Company LLC or MA Haskell Fuel Company LLC offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Kennebec cash heating oil companies serving Kennebec include Fabian Discount Online Inc and Fabian Oil Inc.
Kennebec Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Kennebec: 17 companies .
Average Number of Kennebec Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 17554
Kennebec Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 residences in Kennebec heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Kennebec temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Kennebec houses depend on oil delivery each winter.
23.9% of Kennebec County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Kennebec County Households | Kennebec County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.2M | 298,426 |
160 Kennebec Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 246,945,991 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Kennebec residences the last heating season, the Kennebec community depends on its 160 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 Kennebec, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Kennebec and the surrounding region.
