Cheapest Central Maine Heating Oil Price Trends
| Time Horizon | Price Change |
|---|---|
| 1 Week Trend | -$0.141 |
| 1 Month Trend | +$1.460 |
| 1 Year Trend | +$1.810 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Central Maine Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Central Maine, used by 45,174 or 59% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Central Maine homeowners is Propane, used by 9,265 homes (12%). The other 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 less popular in Central Maine. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of households using fuel oil dropped from 46,278 to 45,174, a 2% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Central Maine
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 6,088 to 9,265, a 52% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 1,992 to 3,723, a 87% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Central Maine
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Central Maine. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 3,424 to 6,978, a 104% 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. Currently, 416 homes in Central Maine are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 338% gain from 2018, when 95 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Central Maine Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Central Maine homeowners heating with heating oil, selecting 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 prefer 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 families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel 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 Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Central Maine: 26 companies .
Average Number of Central Maine Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 1737
Central Maine Heating Oil Delivery Overview
45,174 homes in Central Maine heat their homes with 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 houses are reliant on heating 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 Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 33,434,917 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Central Maine houses during this past winter, the Central Maine community looks to its 26 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery has two parts to it: 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 area.
