Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Kennebec, used by 298,426 or 48% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Kennebec residents 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

Oil has become decreasing in demand in Kennebec. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of homeowners using fuel oil decreased from 345,001 to 298,426, a 13% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Kennebec

Between 2020 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 73,782 to 101,382, a 37% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 46,351 to 53,178, a 15% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Kennebec

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Kennebec. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 54,514 to 92,432, a 70% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Kennebec

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all 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 (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. As it stands today, 3,526 homes in Kennebec are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 191% gain from 2020, when 1,210 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 fuel oil use fluctuates annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 fuel oil, choosing which of the 17 heating oil companies that serve Kennebec plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Kennebec cash heating oil companies serving Kennebec include Fabian Discount Online and Fabian Oil Inc.

Kennebec Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Kennebec: 17 companies .
Average Number of Kennebec Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 17554

Kennebec Heating Oil Delivery Overview

298,426 homes in Kennebec heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Kennebec temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Kennebec families are reliant 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 Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 246,945,991 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Kennebec houses during this past winter, the Kennebec community looks to its 160 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 Kennebec, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Kennebec and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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