Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Piscataquis Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Piscataquis, used by 298,426 or 48% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Piscataquis households is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).
Piscataquis 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 Piscataquis
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Piscataquis. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of residents using heating oil dropped from 344,869 to 298,426, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Piscataquis
Between 2019 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 69,241 to 101,382, a 46% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 44,750 to 53,178, a 19% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Piscataquis
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Piscataquis. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 48,008 to 92,432, a 93% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Piscataquis
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Currently, 3,526 homes in Piscataquis are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 237% gain from 2019, when 1,047 homes used active solar heating.
Piscataquis County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Piscataquis County homeowners purchased a total of 969,034 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Piscataquis’s overall number two heating oil use fluctuates annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Piscataquis was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Piscataquis County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.6° F |
Piscataquis County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Piscataquis families heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Piscataquis plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Piscataquis. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC 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 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 homeowners 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. Some of the 2 Piscataquis cash heating oil companies serving Piscataquis include Mckusick Petroleum Co Inc and A E Robinson Oil Company.
Piscataquis Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Piscataquis: 2 companies .
Average Number of Piscataquis Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 149213
Piscataquis Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 families in Piscataquis heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Piscataquis temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Piscataquis residences rely on oil delivery each winter.
23.9% of Piscataquis County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Piscataquis County Households | Piscataquis County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.2M | 298,426 |
2 Piscataquis Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 246,945,991 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Piscataquis homeowners last winter, the Piscataquis community looks to its 2 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Piscataquis, 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 Piscataquis and the surrounding region.
