Updated on November 8, 2024 at 12:00 AM
Date | Average Oil Price |
---|---|
11/08/2024 | $3.400 |
11/07/2024 | $3.400 |
11/06/2024 | $3.400 |
11/05/2024 | $3.400 |
11/04/2024 | $3.400 |
11/03/2024 | $3.400 |
11/02/2024 | $3.400 |
11/01/2024 | $3.400 |
10/31/2024 | $3.400 |
10/30/2024 | $3.400 |
10/29/2024 | $3.400 |
10/28/2024 | $3.400 |
10/27/2024 | $3.400 |
10/26/2024 | $3.400 |
10/25/2024 | $3.400 |
10/24/2024 | $3.400 |
10/23/2024 | $3.400 |
10/22/2024 | $3.400 |
10/21/2024 | $3.400 |
10/20/2024 | $3.400 |
10/19/2024 | $3.400 |
10/18/2024 | $3.400 |
10/17/2024 | $3.400 |
10/16/2024 | $3.400 |
10/15/2024 | $3.400 |
10/14/2024 | $3.400 |
10/13/2024 | $3.400 |
10/12/2024 | $3.400 |
10/11/2024 | $3.400 |
10/10/2024 | $3.400 |
Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Baltimore County, used by 1,036,714 or 43.77% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Baltimore County homeowners is electricity, used by 1,018,912 homes (43.02%). The remaining homes are heated with heating oil (178,203), propane (89,874), wood (27,892), and other fuels (45,552).
Baltimore County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Baltimore County Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 1.0M | 43.8% |
Electricity | 1.0M | 43.0% |
Heating Oil | 178,203 | 7.5% |
Propane | 89,874 | 3.8% |
Wood | 27,892 | 1.2% |
No Fuel | 18,911 | 0.8% |
Other Fuels | 16,016 | 0.7% |
Solar | 9,098 | 0.4% |
Coal | 1,527 | 0.1% |
Natural gas (43.8%)
Electricity (43.0%)
Heating oil (7.5%)
Propane (3.8%)
Wood (1.2%)
No fuel (0.8%)
Other fuels (0.7%)
Solar (0.4%)
Coal (0.1%)
Heating oil has become less popular in Baltimore County. In the 10 years since 2012, the number of heating oil homes fell from 239,039 to 178,203, a 25.45% drop.
Baltimore County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 246,964 |
2012 | 239,039 |
2013 | 228,525 |
2014 | 222,212 |
2015 | 212,903 |
2016 | 207,818 |
2017 | 201,205 |
2018 | 193,194 |
2019 | 186,662 |
2020 | 179,727 |
2021 | 176,310 |
2022 | 178,203 |
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 68,658 to 89,874.
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 958,637 to 1,036,714.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Baltimore County. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 828,515 to 1,018,912, a 22.98% 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, 9,098 homes in Baltimore County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 2191.69% increase from 2012, when only 397 homes had installed active solar heating.
Last year, Baltimore County homeowners purchased a total of 18 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Baltimore 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 Baltimore County, the average outside temperature was 10.0° F warmer than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Baltimore County Average Winter Temperature
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2023 - 2024 | 49.1° F |
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 39.1° F |
For Baltimore County homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 36 heating oil companies that serve Baltimore 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 234 “full-service” oil companies that serve Baltimore County. Full service companies such as JJ Adams Fuel Oil Co LLC or McComas Fuel Co 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 Baltimore 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 Baltimore County include Alliance Fuel Company and Warthen Fuel Co Inc.
Baltimore County Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Baltimore County: 36 companies
Average Number Of Baltimore County Homes Served Per Company: 979 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Baltimore County Oil Company: 504,732 gallons per year
Approximately 35,256 households in Baltimore County heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Baltimore County temperatures drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.
6% of Baltimore County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
Baltimore County Households | Baltimore County Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
582,699 | 35,256 |
935 Baltimore County Oil Companies Go the Distance
With 18 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Baltimore County homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Baltimore County community relies on its 935 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 Baltimore County, two of the closest terminals are Apex in Baltimore, MD and Center Pt in Baltimore, MD. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses in Baltimore County.