Families have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Hartford, used by 537,918 or 37% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Hartford homeowners is Heating Oil, used by 491,612 homes (34%). The remaining homes are heated with Electricity (21%), Propane (6%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

Hartford County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	537,918	88,504	302,730	491,612	19,550	6,488	10,689
2024	526,146	82,630	293,463	509,593	21,103	5,852	10,146
2023	530,315	92,469	276,839	496,091	19,885	4,238	15,392
2022	519,969	86,596	262,494	520,424	18,487	2,985	13,466
2021	506,772	80,721	258,306	532,053	22,992	2,966	14,306
2020	503,622	73,848	247,960	533,736	22,648	1,909	11,330
2019	500,471	66,974	237,614	535,420	22,304	852	8,355
2018	497,422	60,526	232,420	549,036	22,954	1,579	8,782
2017	478,136	55,608	219,208	562,247	24,510	1,029	10,257
2016	476,852	55,631	230,532	554,283	23,580	900	9,232
2015	471,195	51,915	214,414	561,996	29,530	937	8,159
2014	464,748	49,540	212,031	576,948	34,478	554	11,670
2013	449,787	46,397	209,463	585,757	29,361	401	10,236
2012	442,443	43,849	212,708	615,734	27,351	378	9,891
2011	437,840	43,778	207,267	625,164	25,707	611	7,588
2010	427,850	39,533	203,568	650,621	26,373	299	7,110

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Hartford

Oil has become less popular in Hartford. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using fuel oil decreased from 576,948 to 491,612, a 15% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hartford

Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 49,540 to 88,504, a 79% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 464,748 to 537,918, a 16% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Hartford

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Hartford. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 212,031 to 302,730, a 43% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hartford

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 6,488 homes in Hartford are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1071% gain from 2014, when 554 homes had active solar heating.

Hartford County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Hartford County homeowners purchased a total of 79 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Hartford’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Hartford was 30.6°F, which was 4.6°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Hartford County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	30.6° F
2023 - 2024	35.2° F

Hartford County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Hartford homeowners heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 256 heating oil companies that serve Hartford makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 3101 “full-service” oil companies that serve Hartford. Full service companies such as Aaa Oil Company or Spring Brook Ice & Fuel offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Hartford cash heating oil companies serving Hartford include R & D Oil Service and Bystrek's Oil Company LLC.

Hartford Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Hartford: 256 companies .
Average Number of Hartford Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 1920

Hartford Heating Oil Delivery Overview

491,612 families in Hartford heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hartford temperatures drop as low as 25.1° F each winter. 33.7% of Hartford homes are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.

16.8% of Hartford County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Hartford County Households	Hartford County Heating Oil Households
2.9M	491,612

4986 Hartford Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 397,280,973 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Hartford households during this past winter, the Hartford community depends on its 4986 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Hartford, two of the closest terminals are Buckeye in Wethersfield, CT and Sprague W in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Hartford and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Fairfield County, CT

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Tolland County, CT

Windham County, CT