Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Massachusetts, used by 1,462,335 or 52.38% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Massachusetts homeowners is heating oil, used by 663,749 homes (23.78%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (490,395), propane (123,474), wood (34,021), and other fuels (50,956).
Massachusetts Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Massachusetts Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 1.4M | 52.38% |
Heating Oil | 663,749 | 23.78% |
Electricity | 490,395 | 17.57% |
Propane | 123,474 | 4.42% |
Wood | 34,021 | 1.22% |
Other Fuels | 24,655 | 0.88% |
No Fuel | 19,283 | 0.69% |
Solar | 5,465 | 0.20% |
Coal | 1,553 | 0.06% |
Natural gas (52.38)
Heating oil (23.78)
Electricity (17.57)
Propane (4.42)
Wood (1.22)
Other fuels (0.88)
No fuel (0.69)
Solar (0.20)
Coal (0.06)
Heating oil has become less popular in Massachusetts. In the 8 years since 2014, the number of heating oil homes fell from 770,791 to 663,749, a 13.89% drop.
Massachusetts Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 851,319 |
2012 | 827,983 |
2013 | 798,470 |
2014 | 770,791 |
2015 | 746,949 |
2016 | 723,433 |
2017 | 707,835 |
2018 | 690,486 |
2019 | 678,224 |
2020 | 667,484 |
2021 | 662,876 |
2022 | 663,749 |
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 72,705 to 123,474.
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 1,261,561 to 1,462,335.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Massachusetts. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 361,114 to 490,395, a 35.80% increase.
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all space heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank in the basement.
Currently, 5,465 homes in Massachusetts are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 515.43% increase from 2014, when only 888 homes had installed active solar heating.
Short Term Trends
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 42.7° F |
Winter 2021 - 2022 | 37.4° F |
For Massachusetts homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 800 heating oil companies that serve Massachusetts is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 210 “full-service” oil companies that serve Massachusetts. Full service companies such as Arlex Oil Corp or Arlington Fuel Oil Co Inc offer automatic fuel delivery and furnace repair under a single roof.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel Companies” or “Cash Heating Oil Companies”, these companies are for the budget-conscious Massachusetts homeowner. In return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank and place an order when you run low on oil. Examples of cash heating oil companies that serve Massachusetts include Lucky Burner Service Inc and John G Maclellan Inc.
Massachusetts Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Massachusetts: 800 companies
Average Number Of Massachusetts Homes Served Per Company: 823 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Massachusetts Oil Company: 727,644 gallons per year