Dead River Company
Dead River Company is a privately held New England fuel distributor delivering propane, heating oil, and K1 to residential and commercial customers via 50-plus local offices, a proprietary fleet, and 35+ million gallons of terminal storage, complemented by equipment service and installation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersSouth Portland, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dead River Company does
Dead River Company, headquartered in South Portland, Maine, is a privately held regional fuel distributor serving residential and commercial customers across New England. Founded in 1909 and operated as an LLC, the company delivers propane, heating oil, and K1 kerosene through a network of 50-plus local offices, supported by a proprietary transportation fleet and bulk-storage infrastructure comprising seven propane rail terminals, eight distillate terminals, and more than 35 million gallons of combined storage capacity. Its commercial arm supplies wholesale fuel, propane autogas for vehicle fleets, temporary heat for construction sites, and dedicated account management.
The company's revenue mechanics blend subscription-style recurring fuel delivery (automatic and will-call), annual service plans (EasyComfort covering 100% of parts and labor; SharePlus covering 50%), equipment installation and maintenance, and budget/price-protection products such as 12-month equal payment plans. Customers access service via phone, online account portal, in-person at local offices, or through field service technicians and delivery drivers. Dead River goes to market via direct sales, supported by a referral program ($100 per referral), community engagement, and veteran-recruitment partnerships, and it has built an in-house workforce pipeline through the Dead River Institute, including the new Dead River Institute North training facility launched in Bangor, Maine, in partnership with Eastern Maine Community College.
Recent strategic activity centers on a regional roll-up: the December 2023 acquisition of Roby's Propane Gas expanded presence into Massachusetts's South Coast and Cape Cod, and the February 2024 acquisition of Bourne's Energy added 12,000-plus Vermont customers. Veterans make up over 10% of the workforce, and the company has earned repeated HIRE Vets Gold Medallion recognition. The core customer base is residential, complemented by small/mid-market commercial accounts; revenue is geographically concentrated in New England and seasonally weighted toward the heating season.
Dead River Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dead River Company
- Legal name
- Dead River Company, LLC
- Website
- https://deadriver.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Dead River Company is a privately held New England fuel distributor delivering propane, heating oil, and K1 to residential and commercial customers via 50-plus local offices, a proprietary fleet, and 35+ million gallons of terminal storage, complemented by equipment service and installation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dead River Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heating Fuel Distribution
- NAICS
- Fuel Dealers (457210)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Water Heater & Boiler Service (HSAOACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tankless Water Heater Installation & Service (HSAOACAB)
Keywords
Where Dead River Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Dead River Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Propane Delivery: Recurring delivery of propane to residential and commercial customers for home heating, water heating, cooking, and other applications. Customers can choose automatic delivery (provider-scheduled) or will-call (customer-initiated) delivery.
- Heating Oil & K1 Delivery: Delivery of heating oil and K1 kerosene for residential and commercial heating. Same automatic/will-call delivery options as propane.
- Service Plans: Annual service plan offerings including EasyComfort (covers 100% of parts/labor) and SharePlus (covers 50% of parts/labor), each including free annual tune-up and 24/7 emergency service.
- Equipment Installation: Installation of heating equipment including furnaces, boilers, propane systems, and propane autogas systems for commercial and residential customers.
- Equipment Maintenance & Repair: Routine maintenance, repairs, and troubleshooting for heating systems performed by skilled technicians.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | EasyComfort Service Plan - Full coverage with 100% parts and labor |
| Subscription | Annual | SharePlus Service Plan - Partial coverage with 50% parts and labor |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Referral Program - $100 per referral |
| Subscription | Monthly | Equal Payment Plans - Spread costs over 12 monthly payments |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Dead River Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dead River Company distributes propane and heating oil (including K1 kerosene) to residential and commercial customers throughout New England via automatic or will-call delivery. The company complements fuel delivery with professional heating equipment installation, routine maintenance and repair services, and tiered service plans (EasyComfort and SharePlus) covering parts and labor for HVAC systems, supported by 24/7 no-heat emergency service.
Product overview
Dead River Company is a New England fuel provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of energy products and services. The core offerings include propane delivery and heating oil & K1 delivery (both available via automatic or will-call delivery), complemented by equipment installation and maintenance services through two service plan tiers (EasyComfort covering 100% and SharePlus covering 50% of repair costs). The company serves residential, commercial, and wholesale customers through its Business Solutions division, which operates seven propane rail terminals and eight distillate terminals with over 35 million gallons of storage capacity. Additional offerings include Propane Autogas for fleet fueling, payment/budget plans, a customer MyAccount online portal, the Dead River Institute workforce training program, and a Refer a Friend loyalty program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Propane Delivery Year-round propane delivery service for whole-home heating, cooking, water heating, outdoor living, and more, with automatic and will-call delivery options and price protection plans for residential and commercial customers.
- Heating Oil & K1 Delivery Dependable heating oil and K1 kerosene delivery to keep homes warm throughout the heating season, with automatic and will-call delivery options for residential and commercial customers.
- Propane Autogas Propane autogas fleet fueling solution for businesses seeking a greener, more cost-effective alternative fuel for vehicles including school buses, delivery trucks, and commercial fleets.
- Equipment Installation Professional installation services for heating equipment including furnaces, boilers, and propane systems, from choosing equipment through expert installation and post-sale support for residential and commercial customers.
- Equipment Maintenance Routine maintenance, tune-ups, part replacement, safety inspections, and repair services for heating systems performed by skilled technicians.
- EasyComfort Service Plan Annual service plan covering 100% of parts and labor costs for most repairs, including free annual tune-up and 24/7 no-heat and no-hot-water emergency service.
- SharePlus Service Plan Annual service plan covering 50% of parts and labor costs for most repairs, including free annual tune-up and 24/7 emergency service.
- Business Solutions Wholesale fuel and energy solutions for commercial customers including 24/7 emergency service, temporary heat for construction sites, dependable deliveries, and dedicated account management, leveraging seven propane rail terminals and eight distillate terminals with capacity exceeding 35 million gallons.
- Equal Payment Plans Budget payment plan that estimates annual fuel usage and spreads heating costs over 12 even monthly payments to protect customers against seasonal bill spikes.
- Price Protection Plans Program allowing customers to lock in seasonal propane or heating oil rates or set price caps to protect against heating fuel price spikes.
- MyAccount Online Portal Online customer portal for account management, bill payment, delivery scheduling, and paperless billing options.
- Dead River Institute Workforce training program operating from two state-of-the-art facilities, offering HVAC technician apprenticeships and delivery driver training from apprentice through master level at no cost to students and employees.
- Emergency & Safety Services 24/7 no-heat emergency service with guaranteed return call within one hour for after-hours emergencies, including propane leak response and emergency fuel delivery.
Quantifiable outcome
- Saves $50 on any service plan
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Dead River Company
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Dead River Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Dead River Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- United Ways of Maine / NEWS CENTER Maine's Project HeatminorAnnual partnership supporting the Project Heat Telethon to raise funds for the Keep ME Warm Fund, helping Mainers in need with heating assistance. Dead River Company donated $20,000 in January 2024.
- Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC)corePartnership to provide free workforce training through Dead River Institute North facility in Bangor. EMCC and Dead River Company collaborate on oil-heat technician programs, apprenticeships, and delivery driver training. Dead River Company donated vehicles to EMCC's commercial driving and mechanics programs (18 total vehicles since 2011).
- Boots2RootsminorVeteran organization partnership supporting veterans transitioning to civilian careers in the Dead River Company workforce.
- PaYS Partnership For Your SuccessminorPartnership providing guaranteed job interviews to soldiers through the Army PaYS (Partnership for Your Success) Program.
- Maine Community College SystemcoreCollaboration on the Dead River Institute's 200-Hour HVAC Apprentice program offered in conjunction with the Maine Community College System.
- Live and Work in MaineminorPartnership to support workforce recruitment and promote living and working in Maine to potential employees.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dead River Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Suburban Propane Partners: Public master limited partnership (NYSE:SPH) distributing propane, heating oil, and refined fuels across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Directly comparable business model, customer base (residential and commercial), and service offerings, with overlapping geographic footprint in New England.
- Haffner's Energy: Privately held heating oil and propane distributor headquartered in Massachusetts, serving residential and commercial customers across southern New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts, and southern Maine. Direct competitor with overlapping New England service territory and similar product/customer mix.
Broad incumbents
- AmeriGas Propane: Largest U.S. propane distributor (a subsidiary of UGI Corporation), serving residential, commercial, agricultural, and motor fuel customers nationwide. Overlaps with Dead River on propane delivery, tank installation, and autogas fleet fueling, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Ferrellgas Partners: National propane distributor (parent of Blue Rhino) serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers across all 50 states. Comparable propane distribution model and equipment installation/service offerings, with broader geographic scope and public-company scale.
Regional players
- Irving Oil: Privately held Canadian integrated energy company operating a refinery in Saint John, NB, and a Northeast U.S. retail/commercial fuel distribution network. Comparable refined fuels and propane/heating oil distribution with adjacent New England/New York/Maritime Canada footprint; larger scale and broader product portfolio including refined products.
- R.H. Foster Energy: Privately held Maine-based fuel distributor offering heating oil, propane, diesel, and HVAC services across central and eastern Maine. Direct regional competitor with similar product/customer profile, equipment service line, and fuel delivery model.
- Eastern Propane & Oil: Privately held New England fuel dealer offering propane, heating oil, and HVAC services across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, and Maine. Overlapping service territory with similar residential/commercial fuel delivery and equipment service mix.
- Blue Flame Energy: Privately held propane and heating oil distributor serving Maine and New Hampshire customers with delivery, service plans, and HVAC offerings. Closely comparable regional fuel distribution model focused on residential heating customers in northern New England.
- Pioneer Oil & Propane: Privately held New England-based fuel dealer delivering heating oil, propane, and diesel to residential, commercial, and agricultural customers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Comparable product mix, delivery model, and equipment service offerings in overlapping territories.
- Blossman Gas: Privately held propane distributor serving the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic with residential, commercial, and autogas offerings. Comparable propane distribution and equipment service model, but operates in a different geography with different climate and fuel-mix dynamics than Dead River.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dead River Company social profiles
Digital presenceDead River Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Dead River Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dead River Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dead River Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Dead River Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dead River Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dead River Company
What does Dead River Company do?
Dead River Company distributes propane and heating oil (including K1 kerosene) to residential and commercial customers throughout New England via automatic or will-call delivery. The company complements fuel delivery with professional heating equipment installation, routine maintenance and repair services, and tiered service plans (EasyComfort and SharePlus) covering parts and labor for HVAC systems, supported by 24/7 no-heat emergency service.
Is Dead River Company a public or private company?
Dead River Company is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Dead River Company founded?
Dead River Company was founded in 1936. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Dead River Company based?
Dead River Company is headquartered in South Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dead River Company make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Propane Delivery is the primary driver. The others are heating Oil & K1 Delivery, service Plans, equipment Installation and equipment Maintenance & Repair.
Who are Dead River Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Suburban Propane Partners and Haffner's Energy. Broad incumbents are AmeriGas Propane and Ferrellgas Partners. Regional players are Irving Oil, R.H. Foster Energy, Eastern Propane & Oil, Blue Flame Energy, Pioneer Oil & Propane and Blossman Gas.
Does Dead River Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dead River Company.
What industry is Dead River Company in?
Dead River Company's product category is Heating Fuel Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAOACAJ, Commercial Water Heater & Boiler Service, with a secondary code of HSAOACAB, Tankless Water Heater Installation & Service. Its NAICS code is 457210 and its SIC code is 5172.