diff --git a/openmc/deplete/helpers.py b/openmc/deplete/helpers.py
index d994ab68c5..8e87c532ab 100644
--- a/openmc/deplete/helpers.py
+++ b/openmc/deplete/helpers.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ from collections import defaultdict
 from numpy import dot, zeros, newaxis
 
 from . import comm
-import openmc.data
 from openmc.checkvalue import check_type, check_greater_than
 from openmc.lib import (
     Tally, MaterialFilter, EnergyFilter, EnergyFunctionFilter)
@@ -164,9 +163,9 @@ class EnergyScoreHelper(EnergyHelper):
 
     Parameters
     ----------
-    reaction_mt : int or None
-        Valid score to use when obtaining system energy from openmc.
-        Defaults to 901 [heating assuming local photons]
+    score : string
+        Valid score to use when obtaining system energy from OpenMC.
+        Defaults to "heating-local"
 
     Attributes
     ----------
@@ -177,28 +176,16 @@ class EnergyScoreHelper(EnergyHelper):
         System energy [eV] computed from the tally. Will be zero for
         all MPI processes that are not the "master" process to avoid
         artificially increasing the tallied energy.
-    score : int
-        MT reaction number that is scored.
+    score : str
+        Score used to obtain system energy
 
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, score=None):
+    def __init__(self, score="heating-local"):
         super().__init__()
         self.score = score
         self._tally = None
 
-    @property
-    def score(self):
-        return self._score
-
-    @score.setter
-    def score(self, value):
-        if value is None:
-            self._score = 901
-        else:
-            check_type("score", value, int)
-            self._score = value
-
     def prepare(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Create a tally for system energy production
 
diff --git a/openmc/deplete/operator.py b/openmc/deplete/operator.py
index c9b991d1d1..3558759b4e 100644
--- a/openmc/deplete/operator.py
+++ b/openmc/deplete/operator.py
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ class Operator(TransportOperator):
         if energy_mode == "fission-q":
             self._energy_helper = ChainFissionHelper()
         else:
-            score = 301 if settings.photon_transport else 901
+            score = "heating" if settings.photon_transport else "heating-local"
             self._energy_helper = EnergyScoreHelper(score)
 
         # Select and create fission yield helper
diff --git a/openmc/lib/tally.py b/openmc/lib/tally.py
index e6dd3ddbff..97b7437ea3 100644
--- a/openmc/lib/tally.py
+++ b/openmc/lib/tally.py
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ class Tally(_FortranObjectWithID):
     @scores.setter
     def scores(self, scores):
         scores_ = (c_char_p * len(scores))()
-        scores_[:] = [str(x).encode() for x in scores]
+        scores_[:] = [x.encode() for x in scores]
         _dll.openmc_tally_set_scores(self._index, len(scores), scores_)
 
     @property