Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hartford Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Hartford, used by 537,918 or 37% of homeowners. 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 (No. 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 losing popularity in Hartford. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of families using oil dropped from 554,283 to 491,612, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hartford
Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 55,631 to 88,504, a 59% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 476,852 to 537,918, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Hartford
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Hartford. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 230,532 to 302,730, a 31% 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 621% gain from 2016, when 900 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 consumption changes yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of 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 255 heating oil companies that serve Hartford is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 3090 “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 fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the 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 Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Hartford: 255 companies .
Average Number of Hartford Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 1928
Hartford Heating Oil Delivery Overview
491,612 residences in Hartford heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hartford temperatures drop as low as 25.1° F each winter. 33.7% of Hartford households are reliant on number two heating 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 |
4952 Hartford Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 397,280,973 gallons of heating oil delivered to Hartford families the last heating season, the Hartford community relies on its 4952 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery has two parts to it: 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 fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Hartford and the surrounding vicinity.
