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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Middlesex Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Middlesex, used by 537,918 or 37% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Middlesex residents is Heating Oil, used by 491,612 homes (34%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (21%), Propane (6%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

Middlesex County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
2025537,91888,504302,730491,61219,5506,48810,689
2024526,14682,630293,463509,59321,1035,85210,146
2023530,31592,469276,839496,09119,8854,23815,392
2022519,96986,596262,494520,42418,4872,98513,466
2021506,77280,721258,306532,05322,9922,96614,306
2020503,62273,848247,960533,73622,6481,90911,330
2019500,47166,974237,614535,42022,3048528,355
2018497,42260,526232,420549,03622,9541,5798,782
2017478,13655,608219,208562,24724,5101,02910,257
2016476,85255,631230,532554,28323,5809009,232
2015471,19551,915214,414561,99629,5309378,159
2014464,74849,540212,031576,94834,47855411,670
2013449,78746,397209,463585,75729,36140110,236
2012442,44343,849212,708615,73427,3513789,891
2011437,84043,778207,267625,16425,7076117,588
2010427,85039,533203,568650,62126,3732997,110

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Middlesex

Oil has become decreasing in demand in Middlesex. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of households using fuel oil declined from 520,424 to 491,612, a 6% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Middlesex

Between 2022 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 86,596 to 88,504, a 2% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 519,969 to 537,918, a 3% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Middlesex

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Middlesex. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 262,494 to 302,730, a 15% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Middlesex

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all 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 (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 6,488 homes in Middlesex are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 117% gain from 2022, when 2,985 homes utilized active solar heating.

Middlesex County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Middlesex County homeowners purchased a total of 27 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Middlesex’s overall fuel oil usage varies from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Middlesex was 30.6°F, which was 4.6°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Middlesex County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202530.6° F
2023 - 202435.2° F

Middlesex County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Middlesex homeowners heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 198 heating oil companies that serve Middlesex is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 958 “full-service” oil companies that serve Middlesex. Full service companies such as Aaa Oil Company or Spring Brook Ice & Fuel offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. 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. Some of the 2 Middlesex cash heating oil companies serving Middlesex include Angel Fuel LLC and Martin Heating Oil LLC.

Middlesex Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Middlesex: 198 companies .
Average Number of Middlesex Households Served per Heating Oil company : 2483

Middlesex Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

Middlesex County HouseholdsMiddlesex County Heating Oil Households
2.9M491,612

1524 Middlesex Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 397,280,973 gallons of heating oil delivered to Middlesex homes last winter, the Middlesex community depends on its 1524 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 Middlesex, two of the closest terminals are Buckeye in Wethersfield, CT and Sprague W in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Middlesex and the surrounding vicinity.