Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Bergen County, used by 2,618,092 or 74.00% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Bergen County homeowners is electricity, used by 532,344 homes (15.05%). The remaining homes are heated with heating oil (258,381), propane (91,132), no fuel (30,011), and other fuels (40,620).
Bergen County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Bergen County Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 2.6M | 74.00% |
Electricity | 532,344 | 15.05% |
Heating Oil | 258,381 | 7.30% |
Propane | 91,132 | 2.58% |
No Fuel | 30,011 | 0.85% |
Other Fuels | 19,813 | 0.56% |
Wood | 12,502 | 0.35% |
Solar | 7,334 | 0.21% |
Coal | 971 | 0.03% |
Natural gas (74.00)
Electricity (15.05)
Heating oil (7.30)
Propane (2.58)
No fuel (0.85)
Other fuels (0.56)
Wood (0.35)
Solar (0.21)
Coal (0.03)
Heating oil has become less popular in Bergen County. In the 5 years since 2017, the number of heating oil homes fell from 298,525 to 258,381, a 13.45% drop.
Bergen County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 420,231 |
2012 | 397,731 |
2013 | 374,390 |
2014 | 353,791 |
2015 | 336,160 |
2016 | 314,964 |
2017 | 298,525 |
2018 | 284,056 |
2019 | 271,250 |
2020 | 260,383 |
2021 | 256,421 |
2022 | 258,381 |
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 61,831 to 91,132.
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,396,108 to 2,618,092.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Bergen County. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 397,564 to 532,344, a 33.90% increase.
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all space heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank in the basement.
Currently, 7,334 homes in Bergen County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 213.82% increase from 2017, when only 2,337 homes had installed active solar heating.
For Bergen County homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 103 heating oil companies that serve Bergen County is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 3 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bergen County. Full service companies such as Advantage Oil or Advantage Oil offer automatic fuel delivery and furnace repair under a single roof.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel Companies” or “Cash Heating Oil Companies”, these companies are for the budget-conscious Bergen County homeowner. In return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank and place an order when you run low on oil. Examples of cash heating oil companies that serve Bergen County include Woody's Plumbing and Heating and Air Temp Service Co.
Bergen County Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Bergen County: 103 companies
Average Number Of Bergen County Homes Served Per Company: 131 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Bergen County Oil Company: 86,241 gallons per year
Approximately 13,517 households in Bergen County heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bergen County temperatures drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.
4% of Bergen County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
Bergen County Households | Bergen County Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
303,466 | 13,517 |
3,860 Bergen County Oil Companies Go the Distance
With 9 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Bergen County homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Bergen County community relies on its 3,860 oil companies to keep warm.
Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal. In the case of Bergen County, two of the closest terminals are Etmt in Newark Proper, NJ and Etmt in Newark, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses in Bergen County.