Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Maryland, used by 1,036,714 or 43.77% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Maryland homeowners is electricity, used by 1,018,912 homes (43.02%). The remaining homes are heated with heating oil (178,203), propane (89,874), wood (27,892), and other fuels (45,552).
Maryland Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Maryland Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 1.0M | 43.77% |
Electricity | 1.0M | 43.02% |
Heating Oil | 178,203 | 7.52% |
Propane | 89,874 | 3.79% |
Wood | 27,892 | 1.18% |
No Fuel | 18,911 | 0.80% |
Other Fuels | 16,016 | 0.68% |
Solar | 9,098 | 0.38% |
Coal | 1,527 | 0.06% |
Natural gas (43.77)
Electricity (43.02)
Heating oil (7.52)
Propane (3.79)
Wood (1.18)
No fuel (0.80)
Other fuels (0.68)
Solar (0.38)
Coal (0.06)
Heating oil has become less popular in Maryland. In the 5 years since 2017, the number of heating oil homes fell from 201,205 to 178,203, a 11.43% drop.
Maryland Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 246,964 |
2012 | 239,039 |
2013 | 228,525 |
2014 | 222,212 |
2015 | 212,903 |
2016 | 207,818 |
2017 | 201,205 |
2018 | 193,194 |
2019 | 186,662 |
2020 | 179,727 |
2021 | 176,310 |
2022 | 178,203 |
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 72,677 to 89,874.
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 966,084 to 1,036,714.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Maryland. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 885,470 to 1,018,912, a 15.07% 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, 9,098 homes in Maryland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 251.55% increase from 2017, when only 2,588 homes had installed active solar heating.
For Maryland homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 198 heating oil companies that serve Maryland 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 8 “full-service” oil companies that serve Maryland. Full service companies such as Petro Home Services or Watkins Fuel Company 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 Maryland 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 Maryland include Carroll Home Services and H F Horney Inc.
Maryland Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Maryland: 198 companies
Average Number Of Maryland Homes Served Per Company: 900 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Maryland Oil Company: 463,853 gallons per year
Approximately 162,382 households in Maryland heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Maryland temperatures drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.
7% of Maryland Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
Maryland Households | Maryland Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2.2M | 162,382 |
198 Maryland Oil Companies Go the Distance
With 92 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Maryland homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Maryland community relies on its 198 oil companies to keep warm.
Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal. In the case of Maryland, two of the closest terminals are Buckeye in Baltimore, MD and Citgo in Baltimore, MD. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses in Maryland.