Cheapest Central Maine Heating Oil Price Trends
| Time Horizon | Price Change |
|---|---|
| 1 Day Trend | +$0.001 |
| 1 Week Trend | -$0.004 |
| 1 Month Trend | +$0.188 |
| 1 Year Trend | +$0.578 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Central Maine Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Central Maine, used by 45,174 or 59% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Central Maine families is Propane, used by 9,265 homes (12%). The rest of the homes are heated with Wood (11%), Electricity (9%), Natural Gas (5%), and Other (2%).
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Central Maine
Heating oil has become losing popularity in Central Maine. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of households using number two heating oil dropped from 50,023 to 45,174, a 10% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Central Maine
Between 2014 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,435 to 9,265, a 109% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 383 to 3,723, a 872% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Central Maine
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Central Maine. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 2,124 to 6,978, a 229% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Central Maine
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 416 homes in Central Maine are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 2211% gain from 2014, when 18 homes used active solar heating.
Central Maine Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Central Maine homeowners heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 26 heating oil companies that serve Central Maine can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 3 “full-service” oil companies that serve Central Maine. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 0 Central Maine cash heating oil companies serving Central Maine include and .
Central Maine Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Central Maine: 26 companies .
Average Number of Central Maine Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 1737
Central Maine Heating Oil Delivery Overview
45,174 families in Central Maine heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Central Maine temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 59.4% of Central Maine families rely on oil delivery each winter.
59.4% of Central Maine Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Central Maine Households | Central Maine Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 76,021 | 45,174 |
26 Central Maine Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 33,434,917 gallons of heating oil delivered to Central Maine homeowners last winter, the Central Maine community depends on its 26 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 Central 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 Central Maine and the surrounding region.
