Homeowners have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Middlesex, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Middlesex households is Electricity, used by 610,876 homes (22%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (20%), Propane (5%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

Middlesex County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Middlesex

Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Middlesex. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dropped from 772,641 to 555,640, a 28% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Middlesex

Between 2012 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 68,517 to 128,896, a 88% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 1,249,253 to 1,473,396, a 18% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Middlesex

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Middlesex. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 365,060 to 610,876, a 67% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Middlesex

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 9,580 homes in Middlesex are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1867% gain from 2012, when 487 homes had active solar heating.

Middlesex County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Middlesex County homeowners purchased a total of 108 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Middlesex’s overall oil usage fluctuates yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Middlesex was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Middlesex County Average Winter Temperature

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

Middlesex County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Middlesex homes heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 261 heating oil companies that serve Middlesex can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 4241 “full-service” oil companies that serve Middlesex. Full service companies such as Firemans Fuel or Keohan Fuels & Transportation Inc offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Middlesex cash heating oil companies serving Middlesex include Ranco Enterpises and Maria's Oil.

Middlesex Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Middlesex: 261 companies .
Average Number of Middlesex Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 2129

Middlesex Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

8224 Middlesex Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 582,115,838 gallons of heating oil delivered to Middlesex households last winter, the Middlesex community depends on its 8224 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 Middlesex, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Middlesex and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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