Updated Today at 12:00 AM
Date | Average Oil Price |
---|---|
12/10/2024 | $3.214 |
12/09/2024 | $3.214 |
12/08/2024 | $3.234 |
12/07/2024 | $3.234 |
12/06/2024 | $3.236 |
12/05/2024 | $3.247 |
12/04/2024 | $3.280 |
12/03/2024 | $3.273 |
12/02/2024 | $3.186 |
12/01/2024 | $3.184 |
11/30/2024 | $3.184 |
11/29/2024 | $3.278 |
11/28/2024 | $3.275 |
11/27/2024 | $3.157 |
11/26/2024 | $3.040 |
11/25/2024 | $3.119 |
11/24/2024 | $3.115 |
11/23/2024 | $3.145 |
11/22/2024 | $3.145 |
11/21/2024 | $3.208 |
11/20/2024 | $3.208 |
11/19/2024 | $3.194 |
11/18/2024 | $3.187 |
11/17/2024 | $3.108 |
11/16/2024 | $3.108 |
11/15/2024 | $3.115 |
11/14/2024 | $3.154 |
11/13/2024 | $3.154 |
11/12/2024 | $3.154 |
11/11/2024 | $3.173 |
Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Middlesex County, used by 1,462,335 or 52.38% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Middlesex County homeowners is heating oil, used by 663,749 homes (23.78%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (490,395), propane (123,474), wood (34,021), and other fuels (50,956).
Middlesex County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Middlesex County Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 1.4M | 52.4% |
Heating Oil | 663,749 | 23.8% |
Electricity | 490,395 | 17.6% |
Propane | 123,474 | 4.4% |
Wood | 34,021 | 1.2% |
Other Fuels | 24,655 | 0.9% |
No Fuel | 19,283 | 0.7% |
Solar | 5,465 | 0.2% |
Coal | 1,553 | 0.1% |
Natural gas (52.4%)
Heating oil (23.8%)
Electricity (17.6%)
Propane (4.4%)
Wood (1.2%)
Other fuels (0.9%)
No fuel (0.7%)
Solar (0.2%)
Coal (0.1%)
Heating oil has become less popular in Middlesex County. In the 10 years since 2012, the number of heating oil homes fell from 827,983 to 663,749, a 19.84% drop.
Middlesex County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 851,319 |
2012 | 827,983 |
2013 | 798,470 |
2014 | 770,791 |
2015 | 746,949 |
2016 | 723,433 |
2017 | 707,835 |
2018 | 690,486 |
2019 | 678,224 |
2020 | 667,484 |
2021 | 662,876 |
2022 | 663,749 |
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 65,204 to 123,474.
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 1,225,355 to 1,462,335.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Middlesex County. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 345,759 to 490,395, a 41.83% 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, 5,465 homes in Middlesex County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 653.79% increase from 2012, when only 725 homes had installed active solar heating.
Last year, Middlesex County homeowners purchased a total of 108 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Middlesex County’s overall heating oil use varies from year to year, primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more oil to keep homes warm. Last winter in Middlesex County, the average outside temperature was 0.6° F warmer than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Middlesex County Average Winter Temperature
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2023 - 2024 | 40.9° F |
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 40.3° F |
For Middlesex County homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 263 heating oil companies that serve Middlesex County 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 4322 “full-service” oil companies that serve Middlesex County. Full service companies such as Firemans Fuel or Keohan Fuels & Transportation Inc 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 Middlesex County 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 Middlesex County include Ranco Enterpises and Maria's Oil.
Middlesex County Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Middlesex County: 263 companies
Average Number Of Middlesex County Homes Served Per Company: 466 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Middlesex County Oil Company: 409,081 gallons per year
Approximately 122,676 households in Middlesex County heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Middlesex County temperatures drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.
19% of Middlesex County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
Middlesex County Households | Middlesex County Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
635,163 | 122,676 |
8,285 Middlesex County Oil Companies Go the Distance
With 108 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Middlesex County homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Middlesex County community relies on its 8,285 oil companies to keep warm.
Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal. In the case of Middlesex County, two of the closest terminals are Gulf in Chelsea, MA and Gulf in Chelsea, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses in Middlesex County.