Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Berkshire, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Berkshire households is Electricity, used by 610,876 homes (22%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (20%), Propane (5%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

Berkshire County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	1,473,396	128,896	610,876	555,640	29,010	9,580	23,565
2024	1,472,791	124,926	578,927	572,376	29,933	9,004	21,569
2023	1,413,104	137,540	556,235	615,564	28,805	6,958	25,447
2022	1,443,888	131,253	509,852	627,332	30,194	6,361	26,280
2021	1,411,895	129,599	492,336	649,036	30,651	5,807	21,455
2020	1,398,855	113,994	470,610	647,570	31,378	4,678	21,500
2019	1,385,815	98,388	448,883	646,103	32,105	3,549	21,544
2018	1,374,460	92,227	434,646	657,583	28,621	3,078	20,618
2017	1,353,682	88,756	418,715	674,937	34,421	3,525	19,989
2016	1,332,610	81,858	405,055	688,925	35,051	2,421	19,478
2015	1,306,073	79,528	403,279	690,548	38,927	1,693	20,120
2014	1,310,713	77,135	371,616	703,760	41,999	825	21,307
2013	1,265,878	81,306	371,400	740,917	47,009	1,432	17,553
2012	1,249,253	68,517	365,060	772,641	43,393	487	14,495
2011	1,242,643	65,582	354,007	806,422	40,356	893	13,919
2010	1,234,502	70,046	341,806	810,266	38,813	880	14,235

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Berkshire

Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Berkshire. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of homeowners using heating oil declined from 572,376 to 555,640, a 3% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Berkshire

Between 2024 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 124,926 to 128,896, a 3% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel stayed the same at 1,473,396, a 0% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Berkshire

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Berkshire. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 578,927 to 610,876, a 6% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Berkshire

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Today, 9,580 homes in Berkshire are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 6% gain from 2024, when 9,004 homes used active solar heating.

Berkshire County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Berkshire County homeowners purchased a total of 13 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Berkshire’s overall oil use varies from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Berkshire was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Berkshire County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	30° F
2023 - 2024	34.5° F

Berkshire County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Berkshire residences heating with heating oil, picking which of the 10 heating oil companies that serve Berkshire makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 37 “full-service” oil companies that serve Berkshire. Full service companies such as Lipton Energy or West Oil Company Inc offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Berkshire cash heating oil companies serving Berkshire include Clifford Oil and Pioneer Valley Oil & Propane.

Berkshire Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Berkshire: 10 companies .
Average Number of Berkshire Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 55564

Berkshire Heating Oil Delivery Overview

555,640 homes in Berkshire heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Berkshire temperatures drop as low as 24.3° F each winter. 19.6% of Berkshire houses are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

9.8% of Berkshire County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Berkshire County Households	Berkshire County Heating Oil Households
5.6M	555,640

124 Berkshire Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 582,115,838 gallons of heating oil delivered to Berkshire houses during this past winter, the Berkshire community relies on its 124 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Berkshire, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Berkshire and the surrounding vicinity.

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