Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Kennebec Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Kennebec, used by 298,426 or 48% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Kennebec 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%).
Kennebec County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Kennebec
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Kennebec. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using fuel oil dropped from 374,110 to 298,426, a 20% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Kennebec
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 41,477 to 101,382, a 144% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 28,621 to 53,178, a 86% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Kennebec
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Kennebec. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 23,260 to 92,432, a 297% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Kennebec
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Currently, 3,526 homes in Kennebec are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 455% gain from 2012, when 635 homes utilized active solar heating.
Kennebec County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Kennebec County homeowners purchased a total of 25 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Kennebec’s overall oil usage varies annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Kennebec was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Kennebec County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.6° F |
Kennebec County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Kennebec families heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 17 heating oil companies that serve Kennebec is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 12 “full-service” oil companies that serve Kennebec. Full service companies such as MA Haskell Fuel Company LLC or MA Haskell Fuel Company LLC offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 families 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. A few of the 2 Kennebec cash heating oil companies serving Kennebec include Fabian Discount Online and Fabian Oil Inc.
Kennebec Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Kennebec: 17 companies .
Average Number of Kennebec Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 17554
Kennebec Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 households in Kennebec heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Kennebec temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Kennebec residences rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
23.9% of Kennebec County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Kennebec County Households | Kennebec County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.2M | 298,426 |
160 Kennebec Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 246,945,991 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Kennebec households during this past winter, the Kennebec community relies on its 160 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Kennebec, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Kennebec and the surrounding region.
