New: Find tips, resources and programs to save money, improve your home’s energy efficiency, and apply for heating assistance with our winter heating resource guide.
Weekly Heating Fuel Prices
The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) conducts a weekly survey of heating fuel prices, obtained from fuel retailers statewide. This survey provides the current Maine cash prices, in dollars, rounded to the nearest penny. Prices are updated on Thursday mornings during heating season.
Maine Retail Heating Fuel Prices, as of May 16, 2022*
| Heating Fuel | Statewide | Southwest/ West- Central |
Southeast/ Greater Portland |
Central | East/ Downeast | Northern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heating Oil - Average | $5.86 | $5.91 | $5.79 | $5.82 | $5.86 | $5.95 |
| Heating Oil - High | $6.50 | $6.50 | $6.00 | $6.12 | $6.00 | $6.09 |
| Heating Oil - Low | $3.38 | $5.14 | $4.73 | $3.38 | $5.20 | $5.80 |
|
Kerosene |
$7.19 | $7.18 | $7.22 | $7.31 | $7.22 | $6.99 |
|
Propane |
$3.52 | $3.70 | $3.76 | $3.43 | $3.34 | $3.39 |
*Please Note: The price for the various heating fuels are statewide averages, and prices in a given geographic region of the state may be considerably higher or lower than this average. These statewide averages are spot cash prices, and not ‘pre-buy’, introductory, or otherwise discounted prices. Average propane prices are 30-day cash/credit prices, based on consumption of at least 900 gallons a year. Households using propane just for cooking or hot water generally pay a higher per gallon price.
The Governor’s Energy Office has developed a guide to assist consumers in obtaining the best propane price for their household and location. The guide can be accessed here - Propane 101 Consumer Guide (PDF).
Below is a table that compares various heating fuels, on a dollar per million Btu (heating unit). Consumers will then need to consider the efficiency of their heating system(s) to estimate their overall heating costs.
Comparison of Heating Fuel Prices per Million Btu, as of May 16, 2022
| Fuel Price (in dollars) | Fuel Price (dollars per million Btu) |
|---|---|
| Cord Wood ($275/cord) | $12.50 |
| Wood Pellets1 ($268/ton) | $16.24 |
| Natural Gas ($1.756 - $2.348/therm)2 | $16.48 - $23.48 |
| Electricity - heat pump use (7.13-7.82 cents/kwh)3 | $20.90 - $22.92 |
| Electricity - heat pump water heaters (7.01-7.69 cents/kWh)3 | $20.55 - $22.54 |
| Heating Oil ($5.86/gallon) | $42.25 |
| Kerosene ($7.19/gallon) | $53.26 |
| Propane ($3.53/gallon) | $38.54 |
| Electricity - baseboard (20.9-22.9 cents/kwh)4 | $61.25 - $67.12 |
|
1- average price per ton is based on 40lb bagged pellets; bulk pellet price is higher |
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) provides a calculator that allows consumers to obtain more detailed estimates of home heating costs, and the price impacts of various types of fuel, heating systems, and heating appliances. Heating costs vary considerably from home to home, and the calculator is intended to provide estimates, not exact values. There are numerous factors that are important when deciding on the type of heating system to purchase. Home Heating Calculator (XLS)
Monthly Heating Fuel Price Trends
Historical Monthly Heating Oil Prices (PDF)
Historical Weekly Heating Oil Prices (PDF)
Historical Monthly Kerosene Prices (PDF)
Historical Weekly Kerosene Prices (PDF)
Historical Monthly Propane Prices (PDF)
Historical Weekly Propane Prices (PDF)