H
Hadley, MA Hampden, MA Hatfield, MA Haydenville, MA Heath, MA Hinsdale, MA Holland, MA Holyoke, MA Housatonic, MA Huntington, MAL
Lake Pleasant, MA Lanesborough, MA Lee, MA Leeds, MA Lenox, MA Lenox Dale, MA Leverett, MA Longmeadow, MA Ludlow, MACheapest Western Mass Heating Oil Price Trends
| Time Horizon | Price Change |
|---|---|
| 1 Week Trend | +$0.070 |
| 1 Month Trend | +$0.150 |
| 1 Year Trend | +$1.310 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Western Mass Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Western Mass, used by 139,447 or 42% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Western Mass homeowners is Heating Oil, used by 85,981 homes (26%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (19%), Propane (7%), Wood (3%), and Other (2%).
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Western Mass
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Western Mass. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 93,173 to 85,981, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Western Mass
Between 2017 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 15,186 to 22,506, a 48% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 132,075 to 139,447, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Western Mass
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Western Mass. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 53,921 to 63,456, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Western Mass
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 1,435 homes in Western Mass are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 395% gain from 2017, when 290 homes had active solar heating.
Western Mass Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Western Mass households heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 85 heating oil companies that serve Western Mass makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 37 “full-service” oil companies that serve Western Mass. Full service companies such as Richard's Fuel & Heating Inc or HOP Energy offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel 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 Western Mass cash heating oil companies serving Western Mass include Patterson Fuel Co and Anytime Oil.
Western Mass Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Western Mass: 85 companies .
Average Number of Western Mass Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 1012
Western Mass Heating Oil Delivery Overview
85,981 homes in Western Mass heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Western Mass temperatures drop as low as 24.3° F each winter. 26% of Western Mass homes rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.
26% of Western Mass Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Western Mass Households | Western Mass Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 331,057 | 85,981 |
85 Western Mass Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 79,260,837 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Western Mass houses during this past winter, the Western Mass community depends on its 85 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 Western Mass, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Western Mass and the surrounding vicinity.
