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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Androscoggin Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Homeowners 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 families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Androscoggin households is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The rest of the 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)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
202553,178101,38292,432298,42665,4963,5269,422
202451,24898,17183,361309,15959,6103,1448,226
202351,81184,74479,160323,66657,9992,13712,767
202248,99184,30463,901339,45651,9981,70411,224
202147,95278,32261,019345,13346,2271,37410,375
202046,35173,78254,514345,00150,0771,2109,402
201944,75069,24148,008344,86953,9271,0478,428
201844,32861,19441,759355,90454,8431,1698,683
201741,84161,81636,406331,54154,4541,22810,328
201641,87952,62133,543333,90055,29031211,584
201537,62450,51135,138336,33770,76760411,270
201437,60848,02728,040342,18578,21445111,692
201331,83645,60128,747351,84276,7074869,827
201228,62141,47723,260374,11076,2256356,995
201127,42742,22424,723379,40968,0553076,480
201023,13536,61727,813384,02165,5204465,177

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Androscoggin

Oil has become losing popularity in Androscoggin. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of homeowners using heating oil dropped from 339,456 to 298,426, a 12% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Androscoggin

Between 2022 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 84,304 to 101,382, a 20% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 48,991 to 53,178, a 9% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Androscoggin

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Androscoggin. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 63,901 to 92,432, a 45% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Androscoggin

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. As it stands today, 3,526 homes in Androscoggin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 107% gain from 2022, when 1,704 homes had 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 number two heating oil use changes from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of fuel 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 SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202524.4° F
2023 - 202428.6° F

Androscoggin County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Androscoggin residences heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 21 heating oil companies that serve Androscoggin makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 16 “full-service” oil companies that serve Androscoggin. Full service companies such as Ness Oil Company or Ness Oil Company 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 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating 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 Androscoggin cash heating oil companies serving Androscoggin include Crowley Energy and Kennebec Energy LLC.

Androscoggin Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Androscoggin: 21 companies .
Average Number of Androscoggin Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 14211

Androscoggin Heating Oil Delivery Overview

298,426 residences 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 homes depend on heating oil delivery each winter.

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

Androscoggin County HouseholdsAndroscoggin County Heating Oil Households
1.2M298,426

155 Androscoggin Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 246,945,991 gallons of heating oil delivered to Androscoggin families the last heating season, the Androscoggin community looks to its 155 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 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 residences and companies throughout Androscoggin and the surrounding area.