Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Heating oil is the most popular choice in Southern Maine, used by 161,050 or 57.94% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Southern Maine homeowners is propane, used by 36,404 homes (13.10%). The remaining homes are heated with natural gas (35,192), electricity (26,774), wood (14,646), and other fuels (7,850).
Southern Maine Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Southern Maine Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Heating Oil | 161,050 | 57.94% |
Propane | 36,404 | 13.10% |
Natural Gas | 35,192 | 12.66% |
Electricity | 26,774 | 9.63% |
Wood | 14,646 | 5.27% |
Other Fuels | 5,372 | 1.93% |
No Fuel | 1,418 | 0.51% |
Solar | 813 | 0.29% |
Coal | 247 | 0.09% |
Heating oil (57.94)
Propane (13.10)
Natural gas (12.66)
Electricity (9.63)
Wood (5.27)
Other fuels (1.93)
No fuel (0.51)
Solar (0.29)
Coal (0.09)
Heating oil has become less popular in Southern Maine. In the 11 years since 2011, the number of heating oil homes fell from 183,333 to 161,050, a 12.15% drop.
Southern Maine Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 183,333 |
2012 | 179,788 |
2013 | 175,026 |
2014 | 170,800 |
2015 | 166,926 |
2016 | 163,695 |
2017 | 161,353 |
2018 | 160,376 |
2019 | 159,351 |
2020 | 161,019 |
2021 | 160,641 |
2022 | 161,050 |
Between 2011 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 19,445 to 36,404.
Between 2011 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 20,828 to 35,192.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Southern Maine. Since 2011, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 12,121 to 26,774, a 120.89% 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, 813 homes in Southern Maine are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 344.26% increase from 2011, when only 183 homes had installed active solar heating.
Short Term Trends
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 38° F |
Winter 2021 - 2022 | 22.4° F |
For Southern Maine homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 114 heating oil companies that serve Southern Maine 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 13 “full-service” oil companies that serve Southern Maine. Full service companies such as Heatable or Alfred Oil 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 Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine include Estes Oil Burner Service Inc and Gagnon & Son Inc.
Southern Maine Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Southern Maine: 114 companies
Average Number Of Southern Maine Homes Served Per Company: 1,412 homes