TL;DR: COD (cash on delivery) gives you the lowest day-to-day prices but all the work and risk. Automatic delivery trades a little price for convenience and no run-outs. Fixed/capped pricing buys peace of mind against winter spikes but can cost more if prices fall. The best plan depends on your cash flow, your tolerance for risk, and how hands-on you want to be.
See today’s Southern Maine dealer prices →
Most Southern Maine dealers offer some version of three buying plans. Picking the right one matters as much as picking the right dealer — the wrong plan can quietly cost you a couple hundred dollars over a winter. Here’s how the three compare, and how to choose.
With COD, you order oil when you want it and pay that day’s price — typically by cash or check on delivery. It’s the classic “I’ll shop around and call when I’m low” approach.
Best for: Hands-on buyers who watch prices, have flexible cash flow, and don’t mind monitoring their own tank.
COD pairs perfectly with comparison shopping — see Cheapest Heating Oil in Southern Maine for the routine.
Here the dealer estimates your usage based on weather (degree days) and your tank size, then fills you before you run dry. You don’t have to think about it.
Best for: Busy households that value not running out and don’t want to track tank levels.
Automatic delivery is about removing risk and hassle, not squeezing the last cent. If your winters are busy and a run-out would be a disaster (frozen pipes, an emergency-fill premium), the convenience can be worth the small price difference.
With a fixed plan you lock a per-gallon price for the season; with a capped plan you get a ceiling but can still benefit if prices drop (often for a small fee). These are insurance against winter price spikes.
Best for: Budgeters who want a predictable bill and worry about cold-snap spikes.
Because these plans lock in early-season pricing, the value depends entirely on where the market goes — which is why understanding the drivers in How Heating Oil Prices Are Set in Maine helps you decide.
If you’re nervous that automatic delivery means a dealer fills you whenever they feel like it, here’s the reassuring part: most dealers schedule it using “degree days” — a weather-based measure of how cold it’s been. They combine that with your tank size and your home’s past usage to estimate how fast you’re burning oil, then deliver before you’d hit a low level. The colder it gets, the sooner they come. It’s a genuinely useful system for households that don’t want to be checking a tank gauge in February. The trade-off is simply that you’re accepting the dealer’s pricing for that convenience rather than shopping each fill.
Fixed and capped plans are contracts, so the details matter:
Ask for these terms in writing. A plan that looks great on the phone can read differently on paper.
| Plan | Price level | Convenience | Risk you carry | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COD | Lowest day-to-day | Lowest (you do the work) | All price + run-out risk | Hands-on bargain hunters |
| Automatic | Standard | Highest (set and forget) | Little run-out risk; market risk | Busy households |
| Fixed / Capped | Locked / ceiling | Medium | Spike risk removed; may overpay if prices drop | Budgeters wary of spikes |
Beyond the three core plans, dealers often offer two billing twists that get bundled in:
You can often combine these with a core plan — for example, automatic delivery on budget billing, or a fixed price paid via pre-buy. Ask each dealer how their options stack.
You’re not locked into one philosophy forever. Plenty of households run COD in the shoulder seasons when they have time to shop, then switch to a fixed or capped plan for the deep-winter months when a spike would hurt most. Others keep automatic delivery for peace of mind but enroll in budget billing to tame the cash flow. The plans are tools, not tribes — the right combination is whatever matches your tank, your schedule, and your tolerance for a variable bill this particular year. Revisit the choice each fall: what made sense during a calm market year may not fit a volatile one, and a five-minute review before the season beats locking yourself into the wrong setup until spring.
Ask yourself three questions:
Whatever plan you pick, you can still compare what dealers are charging right now. The dealers we track — Desrochers Oil, CN Brown Energy, Ace Oil Maine, Heatwave Oil LLC, and Welch Oil — offer different plans and prices, so it pays to ask each what they offer.
See today’s Southern Maine dealer prices →
Is COD or automatic delivery cheaper?
COD usually has the lower per-gallon price because you shop the market and often pay cash. Automatic delivery costs a bit more in exchange for convenience and avoiding run-outs.
Should I lock in a fixed heating oil price?
A fixed or capped plan makes sense if you want budget certainty and protection against winter spikes, and you’re comfortable possibly paying more if prices fall. Enrollment windows are often in late summer or early fall.
What happens if I run out of oil on a COD plan?
You’ll need an emergency delivery, which can come at a premium, and your system may need to be restarted/primed. Monitoring your tank — or switching to automatic delivery — avoids this.
Can I switch plans later?
Usually, yes, though fixed/capped contracts may run for a season and have enrollment windows. Ask your dealer about terms before committing.
Do all Southern Maine dealers offer all three plans?
Not necessarily. Plans and terms vary by dealer, so confirm what each offers. Compare current prices on our live board and ask each dealer directly.
New to buying oil here? Start with our complete Southern Maine heating oil guide. Prices on our board are observed, publicly visible snapshots that change frequently; confirm the current price and plan terms with the dealer before ordering.