FUEL COST CALCULATOR (1)
For a copy of this interactive spreadsheet, send an email indicating your spreadsheet program.
 

Fuel

Unit
Cost

Unit
BTU

Efficiency

Cost/MM BTU

Cost/Yr
(2)

Fuel

Electric

$0.11

3,400

95%

$34.06

$3,065

Electric

per kwh

per kwh

Corn

$230.00

16,000,000

80%

$17.97

$1,617

Corn

per ton

per ton

Heating Oil

$1.80

138,000

80%

$16.30

$1,467

Heating Oil

per gallon

per gallon

Propane

$1.10

91,000

80%

$15.11

$1,360

Propane

per gallon

per gallon

Biomass Pellets (3)

$185.00

16,400,000

75%

$15.04

$1,354

Biomass Pellets (3)

per ton

per ton

Wood Briquettes

$160.00

16,400,000

80%

$12.20

$1,098

Wood Briquettes

per ton

per ton

Natural Gas

$0.80

100,000

80%

$10.00

$900

Natural Gas

per therm

per therm

Coal

$170.00

25,000,000

75%

$9.07

$816

Coal

per ton

per ton

Ag Residue Pellets (4)

$100.00

16,000,000

75%

$8.33

$750

Ag Residue Pellets (4)

per ton

per ton

Cordwood

$130.00

22,000,000

75%

$7.88

$709

Cordwood

per cord

per cord

(1) Concept and reference data from Pellet Fuels Institute and HearthNet. All prices (costs) are subject to change. Unit BTUs and efficiencies will vary with fuels and appliances. See backup data on following sheets. Prices are those currently quoted in Northampton, MA except for Ag Residue Pellets and Wood Briquettes, which are not available.

(2) This column assumes annual home heating need of 90 MM BTU.

(3) This group of pellets includes wood, cardboard and certain types of paper and ag-residues. This premium fuel categoy has under 2% ash.

(4) This category includes peanut hulls, sunflower hulls and oat hulls. Ash contents are greater than 3%.