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

Worcester 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 Worcester

Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Worcester. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of residents using oil fell from 690,548 to 555,640, a 20% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Worcester

Between 2015 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 79,528 to 128,896, a 62% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 1,306,073 to 1,473,396, a 13% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Worcester

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Worcester. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 403,279 to 610,876, a 51% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Worcester

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. Now, 9,580 homes in Worcester are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 466% gain from 2015, when 1,693 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Worcester County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Worcester County homeowners purchased a total of 118 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Worcester’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn additional number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Worcester was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Worcester County Average Winter Temperature

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

Worcester County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Worcester families heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 153 heating oil companies that serve Worcester is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 1228 “full-service” oil companies that serve Worcester. Full service companies such as Al's Oil Service or RiteWay Heating Cooling & Plumbing Inc offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Worcester cash heating oil companies serving Worcester include Red Star Oil Co and Superior Oil Co Inc.

Worcester Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Worcester: 153 companies .
Average Number of Worcester Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 3632

Worcester Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

2675 Worcester Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 582,115,838 gallons of heating oil delivered to Worcester residences the last heating season, the Worcester community depends on its 2675 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Worcester, 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 Worcester and the surrounding vicinity.

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