Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in New Haven, used by 537,918 or 37% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for New Haven homeowners 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%).

New Haven 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 New Haven

Heating oil has become less popular in New Haven. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of residents using heating oil decreased from 532,053 to 491,612, a 8% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in New Haven

Between 2021 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 80,721 to 88,504, a 10% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 506,772 to 537,918, a 6% change.

Electricity use for home heating in New Haven

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in New Haven. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 258,306 to 302,730, a 17% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in New Haven

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 6,488 homes in New Haven are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 119% gain from 2021, when 2,966 homes utilized active solar heating.

New Haven County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, New Haven County homeowners purchased a total of 87 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

New Haven’s overall number two heating oil usage changes yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in New Haven was 30.6°F, which was 4.6°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

New Haven County Average Winter Temperature

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

New Haven County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For New Haven homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 275 heating oil companies that serve New Haven plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 2009 “full-service” oil companies that serve New Haven. Full service companies such as Aaa Oil Company or Spring Brook Ice & Fuel offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 New Haven cash heating oil companies serving New Haven include Boss Oil Co LLC and Angel Fuel LLC.

New Haven Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving New Haven: 275 companies .
Average Number of New Haven Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 1788

New Haven Heating Oil Delivery Overview

491,612 homes in New Haven heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when New Haven temperatures drop as low as 25.1° F each winter. 33.7% of New Haven homes rely on heating oil delivery each winter.

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

New Haven County Households	New Haven County Heating Oil Households
2.9M	491,612

3417 New Haven Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 397,280,973 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to New Haven homeowners last winter, the New Haven community relies on its 3417 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 New Haven, two of the closest terminals are Buckeye in Wethersfield, CT and Sprague W in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout New Haven and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Fairfield County, CT

Hartford County, CT

Litchfield County, CT

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Tolland County, CT

Windham County, CT