Just ordered my annual tank of heating oil

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

TimfromMA

Minister of Fire
Mar 6, 2014
2,306
Central MA
Thanks to pellets, this unpleasant chore now only comes around once per year.
 
Prices just went down in my area. I'm going to get mine topped off too (still use it for DHW)
 
I paid $3.24 per gallon which is the lowest price I could find in our area.
 
1 US GAL HEATING OIL=140,000 BTU X .75 AVG. EFFICIENCY =105,000 BTU



1 KW =3412 BTU
105,000/3412=30.8 KWHR X .15 CENTS KWHR= $4.62 IN POWER COST

Some heat pumps have a C.O.P or co-efficient of performance up to 2 so your cost would be less than oil. I suggest a split system heat pump for warmer days...
 
I paid $3.24 per gallon which is the lowest price I could find in our area.
Cheapest price I've seen here on the upper Cape is $3.30. Basically we have a full tank though, it's over 3/4 full from last season. Our oil heat just heats the tenants 500sq ft apartment. Our 1800 sq ft of main house is now heated by the P61. Should have bought a pellet boiler but being new to pellets I didn't think of it at the time.
 
1 US GAL HEATING OIL=140,000 BTU X .75 AVG. EFFICIENCY =105,000 BTU



1 KW =3412 BTU
105,000/3412=30.8 KWHR X .15 CENTS KWHR= $4.62 IN POWER COST

Some heat pumps have a C.O.P or co-efficient of performance up to 2 so your cost would be less than oil. I suggest a split system heat pump for warmer days...

The only thing we use oil for is hot water and a tiny amount of heat to keep our unused areas at 50 degrees.
 
I think we pay $0.12 per kW.

Actually closer to a real price of $0.16 - $0.17/kW presently if you total both generation, delivery, etc. The $0.12 is likely just the generation, which I believe is the number National Grid cites to make it sound good. It's gone down a small amount in the last few months. Chart below is total kW divided by the actual bill amount to reflect the "real" price per kW. I keep a running record.

Guessing you got oil from Blackstone Valley Oil? http://www.newenglandoil.com/massachusetts/zone11.asp?x=0

electric bill.jpg
 
1 US GAL HEATING OIL=140,000 BTU X .75 AVG. EFFICIENCY =105,000 BTU



1 KW =3412 BTU
105,000/3412=30.8 KWHR X .15 CENTS KWHR= $4.62 IN POWER COST

Some heat pumps have a C.O.P or co-efficient of performance up to 2 so your cost would be less than oil. I suggest a split system heat pump for warmer days...
can you elaborate on the COP part?
 
can you elaborate on the COP part?

COP when discussing a heat pump is a comparison what straight electric would give you. So if you have a COP of 2 on a electric heat pump water heater it will cost 1/2 what a electric hot water would cost to run. On most charts comparing BTU's put in 200% for the efficiency of your electric heat pump appliance to compare BTUS between fuels.
 
COP when discussing a heat pump is a comparison what straight electric would give you. So if you have a COP of 2 on a electric heat pump water heater it will cost 1/2 what a electric hot water would cost to run. On most charts comparing BTU's put in 200% for the efficiency of your electric heat pump appliance to compare BTUS between fuels.

so using the formula below, assuming its at 100% efficient, a HP at COP of 2, will cost 2.31 in power costs?

1 US GAL HEATING OIL=140,000 BTU X .75 AVG. EFFICIENCY =105,000 BTU
1 KW =3412 BTU
105,000/3412=30.8 KWHR X .15 CENTS KWHR= $4.62 IN POWER COST
 
so using the formula below, assuming its at 100% efficient, a HP at COP of 2, will cost 2.31 in power costs?

1 US GAL HEATING OIL=140,000 BTU X .75 AVG. EFFICIENCY =105,000 BTU
1 KW =3412 BTU
105,000/3412=30.8 KWHR X .15 CENTS KWHR= $4.62 IN POWER COST

Yes your math looks correct.
 
Delivery was actually made today. Only used 200 gallons since last July.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.