Retail Heating Oil and Propane Prices - Dashboard
Last winter, DOER launched the interactive dashboard below to allow users to explore current and historical price data previously posted in static tables.
As part of U.S. EIA State Heating Oil & Propane Program, DOER conducts weekly telephone surveys of heating oil and propane dealers and posts the average retail price. During the shoulder season (April - September), DOER conducts these surveys on a monthly basis.
Prices aggregated from Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources telephone surveys of full-service oil and propane dealers who service Massachusetts households; not inclusive of any discounts offered for cash payments and based on the average winter fill-up 100-150 gallons/fill-up or more.
Note: dealers may charge more per gallon for fill-ups under 100 gallons. Prices are in $ per gallon.
Retail Heating Oil Prices
As part of U.S. EIA State Heating Oil & Propane Program, DOER conducts weekly telephone surveys of heating oil and propane dealers and posts the average retail price. During the shoulder season (April - September), DOER conducts these surveys on a monthly basis.
Prices aggregated from Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources telephone surveys of full-service oil dealers who service Massachusetts households; not inclusive of any discounts offered for cash payments and based on the average winter fill-up 100-150 gallons/fill-up or more.
Note: dealers may charge more per gallon for fill-ups under 100 gallons. Prices are in $ per gallon.
| Heating Oil | Average | High (90th Percentile) | Low (10th Percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| This Month: 09/16/24 ($/gallon) | $3.37 | $3.80 | $2.99 |
| Last Month: 08/12/24 ($/gallon) | $3.49 | $3.88 | $3.05 |
| Last Year ($/gallon) | $4.19 | $4.60 | $3.80 |
| % Change from Last Year | -19.5% | -17.4% | -21.3% |
| 2023/24 Winter Heating Season Average-Retail Price ($/gallon) | $3.62 | ||
| EIA Weighted Winter Heating Season Average Consumer Price ($/gallon) | $3.73 |
Winter heating season surveys are done on a weekly basis October-March and on a monthly basis from April-September. Retail price refers to the average price from weekly surveys. Weighted prices takes the retail prices submitted to U.S. EIA and weights them for sales and other factors to get average consumer price. Click here for information on factors that impact heating oil prices.
Additional Links & Resources
Mass Historical Heating Oil Prices: 2000-present
U.S. EIA Mass. Weekly Heating Oil & Propane Prices
Factors Impacting Heating Oil Prices
Home Energy Assistance Programs
Attorney General's Consumer Information
Documents
Consumer Tip sheet: Oil Heat Contracts (PDF 47.38 KB)
Consumer Tip sheet: Oil Heat Maintenance (PDF 80.94 KB)
Retail Propane Prices
As part of U.S. EIA State Heating Oil & Propane Program, DOER conducts weekly telephone surveys of heating oil and propane dealers and posts the average retail price. During the shoulder season (April - September), DOER conducts these surveys on a monthly basis.
Prices aggregated from Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources telephone surveys of propane dealers who service Massachusetts households; not inclusive of any discounts offered for cash payments and based on the average winter fill-up 100-150 gallons/fill-up or more.
Note: dealers may charge more per gallon for fill-ups under 100 gallons. Prices are in $ per gallon.
| Propane | Average | High (90th Percentile) | Low (10th Percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| This Month: 09/16/24 ($/gallon) | $3.58 | $4.19 | $2.95 |
| Last Month: 08/12/24 ($/gallon) | $3.53 | $4.19 | $2.70 |
| Last Year ($/gallon) | $3.40 | $3.69 | $2.60 |
| % Change from Last Year | 5.2% | 13.6% | 13.4% |
| 2023/24 Winter Heating Season Average-Retail Price ($/gallon) | $3.52 | ||
| EIA Weighted Winter Heating Season Average Consumer Price ($/gallon) | $3.57 |
Winter heating season surveys are done on a weekly basis October-March and on a monthly basis from April-September. Retail price refers to the average price from weekly surveys. Weighted prices takes the retail prices submitted to U.S. EIA and weights them for sales and other factors to get average consumer price.
Additional Links & Resources
Mass Historical Propane Prices: 2000-present
U.S. EIA Mass. Weekly Heating Oil & Propane Prices
Co-op Power (offers discounted propane to members in Western Mass: Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties)
Modern Wood Heating Prices
Wood Price Surveys
Pellet stoves, inserts, and boilers are increasingly popular options for heating in Massachusetts and throughout the country. In response to this interest, the Mass. Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is now providing modern wood pricing information on wood pellets, dried wood chips and cord wood to give consumers a better sense of the market for wood heating.
| Type of Pellet | Price/Unit | Spring 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk | $290/ton | $283/ton | |
| Bagged | $316/ton | $325/ton | |
| $7.35/bag | $7.18/bag |
- Prices are aggregated from DOER telephone surveys of wood pellet dealers who service Massachusetts households; Pricing does not include delivery.
- Both hardwood and mixed blends are included in the average.
- Bulk pellets are loose pellets that are brought to the user’s site in a truck that delivers directly into a storage silo using either compressed air or an auger conveyance system. The user must have capacity to store a minimum of 2-3 tons of loose pellets.
- Bagged pellets are individual 40 lb. bags that can be purchased by the bag, or by a delivered pallet of bags usually totaling about one ton, based upon the user’s preference and needs.
Pellet Quality Information
If you own a pellet stove, it’s important to know that not all wood pellets are the same. When you purchase bagged pellets, look for products that have been tested by an independent laboratory and certified by the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) Standards Program. All pellets that are certified will have a PFI label on the front lower third of the bag. Currently, twelve pellet manufacturing facilities in the U.S. participate in the voluntary certification.
Marketing terms can be confusing and manufacturers do not need to comply with a pellet quality standard. Bagged pellets that are not certified by PFI Standards Program will vary in ash content, moisture content, and heat output commonly referred to as British Thermal Units (BTUs). Burning uncertified pellets may mean you get less heat from the pellets and the efficiency and overall life of your pellet stove may be adversely impacted.
Other Wood Prices (Chips & Cord)
Fall 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Wood | Price Unit | Spring 2021 |
| Dried Wood Chips | $130/ton | $123/ton |
| Cord Wood | $293/cord | $266/cord |
Dried wood chips contains less than 35% moisture content and are used in modern wood heating boilers.
Both wood pellet and dried wood chip systems may qualify for the Alternative Portfolio Standard (APS).
Additional Resources
U.S. EIA Densified Biomass Fuel Report
Small Commercial & Institutional System Wood Pellet Heating Guide for (PDF 1.04 MB)
Massachusetts Firewood Sales Guide (PDF 1.24 MB)
Electric & Natural Gas Rates
Unlike heating oil, propane and wood, electric and gas rates are set by utilities and approved by the Mass. Dept of Public Utilities. Currently consumers of the Electric Distribution Companies (Non-Municipal) utilities can shop for the generation portion of their bill. This is known as Competitive Supply. Customers not on competitive supply are on utility provided Basic Service Rates. These rates are published by the DPU.
Electric Rates
Current Basic Service Rates: Rates and information on how basic service works.
EnergySwitchMA Website: DPU website that assists consumers with shopping for Competitive Supply.
For Municipal Utility rates in your city/town-contact your local utility. Unsure of your utility-visit the Find Your Utility Page
Natural Gas Rates
Mass. DPU publishes the Cost of Gas Adjustment Factor Rates & Information
For Municipal Utility rates in your city/town-contact your local utility. Unsure of your utility-visit the Find Your Utility Page
Non-Discrimination Statement
Department of Energy Resources (DOER) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex and sponsors equal opportunity programs and activities as discrimination is prohibited by federal law. For more information, including DOER’s Non-Discrimination Notice, complaint procedure, and designated representative, please go to DOER’s website at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-energy-resources.
Contact for Massachusetts Home Heating Fuels Prices
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