Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Androscoggin, used by 298,426 or 48% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Androscoggin households is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The remaining homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).

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

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	53,178	101,382	92,432	298,426	65,496	3,526	9,422
2024	51,248	98,171	83,361	309,159	59,610	3,144	8,226
2023	51,811	84,744	79,160	323,666	57,999	2,137	12,767
2022	48,991	84,304	63,901	339,456	51,998	1,704	11,224
2021	47,952	78,322	61,019	345,133	46,227	1,374	10,375
2020	46,351	73,782	54,514	345,001	50,077	1,210	9,402
2019	44,750	69,241	48,008	344,869	53,927	1,047	8,428
2018	44,328	61,194	41,759	355,904	54,843	1,169	8,683
2017	41,841	61,816	36,406	331,541	54,454	1,228	10,328
2016	41,879	52,621	33,543	333,900	55,290	312	11,584
2015	37,624	50,511	35,138	336,337	70,767	604	11,270
2014	37,608	48,027	28,040	342,185	78,214	451	11,692
2013	31,836	45,601	28,747	351,842	76,707	486	9,827
2012	28,621	41,477	23,260	374,110	76,225	635	6,995
2011	27,427	42,224	24,723	379,409	68,055	307	6,480
2010	23,135	36,617	27,813	384,021	65,520	446	5,177

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Androscoggin

Fuel oil has become less popular in Androscoggin. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of families using heating oil decreased from 323,666 to 298,426, a 8% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Androscoggin

Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 84,744 to 101,382, a 20% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 51,811 to 53,178, a 3% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Androscoggin

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Androscoggin. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 79,160 to 92,432, a 17% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Androscoggin

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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, 3,526 homes in Androscoggin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 65% gain from 2023, when 2,137 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Androscoggin County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Androscoggin County homeowners purchased a total of 19 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Androscoggin’s overall heating oil consumption varies 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 number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Androscoggin was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Androscoggin County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	24.4° F
2023 - 2024	28.6° F

Androscoggin County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Androscoggin homeowners heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 21 heating oil companies that serve Androscoggin 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 16 “full-service” oil companies that serve Androscoggin. Full service companies such as Ness Oil Company or Ness Oil Company offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic 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 clients who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Androscoggin cash heating oil companies serving Androscoggin include Crowley Energy and Kennebec Energy LLC.

Androscoggin Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Androscoggin: 21 companies .
Average Number of Androscoggin Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 14211

Androscoggin Heating Oil Delivery Overview

298,426 houses in Androscoggin heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Androscoggin temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Androscoggin households depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

23.9% of Androscoggin County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Androscoggin County Households	Androscoggin County Heating Oil Households
1.2M	298,426

155 Androscoggin Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 246,945,991 gallons of heating oil delivered to Androscoggin families the last heating season, the Androscoggin community depends on its 155 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Androscoggin, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Androscoggin and the surrounding vicinity.

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