TL;DR: Heating oil prices in Southern Maine move daily, so the smart question isn’t just “what’s the price?” but “which way is it heading?” We update this page weekly with the current direction of the local market and point you to the live board for exact, dealer-by-dealer numbers.
See today’s Southern Maine dealer prices →
Heating oil isn’t a fixed-price product. The number changes with the wholesale market, the weather, and each dealer’s own costs — sometimes within the same day. This page exists to give you the direction of the trend so you can decide whether to buy now or wait, and then send you straight to the live board for the real, current figures.
(Updated weekly.) For exact, up-to-the-moment prices across every dealer we track, check the live price board — it always reflects the latest visible numbers, while this section summarizes the broader direction of travel.
When you read the board, keep three things in mind:
You don’t need to be a commodities trader to use a trend. A few simple reads:
To understand why the trend moves the way it does, read How Heating Oil Prices Are Set in Maine.
Even on a quiet market week, different Southern Maine dealers post very different prices. The dealers we track include Desrochers Oil, CN Brown Energy, Ace Oil Maine, Heatwave Oil LLC, and Welch Oil. A 30–60¢ gap between the cheapest and priciest is common — roughly $45–$90 on a 150-gallon delivery. So the trend tells you when; the board tells you who.
For a full walkthrough on locking the lowest number, see Cheapest Heating Oil in Southern Maine.
The single best habit for an oil-heat household is a 30-second check of the board before any fill — and a glance now and then through the season so a rising trend doesn’t surprise you. You don’t need to obsess; you just don’t want to call one dealer out of habit and miss that another is 50 cents cheaper today. Bookmark the board, check it before you order, and let the comparison do the work that calling around used to. Over a winter of multiple deliveries, that small habit is often worth more than any single clever bit of market timing.
A trend also keeps you honest about urgency. If prices are climbing and your tank is dropping, the board nudges you to act before a cold-snap spike. If prices are easing and you’ve got room, it gives you permission to wait a few days. Either way, you’re deciding with real information instead of guessing.
What’s the price of heating oil in Southern Maine today?
Today’s exact prices are on our live board, which updates with the latest visible dealer numbers. This page summarizes the weekly direction; the board has the current figures.
How often do heating oil prices change?
Daily, and sometimes more than once a day. Prices track the wholesale market and each dealer’s costs, which is why we point you to the live board rather than quoting a fixed number here.
Should I buy now or wait for prices to drop?
If your tank is low or prices are trending up, buying sooner usually wins. If you have a cushion and prices are easing, a short wait can help — just don’t risk running out, especially in winter.
Why is your “today” page updated only weekly?
The narrative summary is refreshed weekly, but the live board behind it reflects the latest visible prices continuously. For exact numbers, always use the board.
Do you track every Southern Maine dealer?
We track a growing set — currently Desrochers Oil, CN Brown Energy, Ace Oil Maine, Heatwave Oil LLC, and Welch Oil. Missing or stale prices appear as empty states, never invented numbers.
Prices on our board are observed, publicly visible snapshots that change frequently. Confirm the current price and terms with the dealer before ordering. New here? Start with our complete Southern Maine heating oil guide.