Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in New Haven, used by 537,918 or 37% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for New Haven 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%).

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

Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in New Haven. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using number two heating oil fell from 554,283 to 491,612, a 11% drop.

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

Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot 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 grew from 476,852 to 537,918, a 13% change.

Electricity use for home heating in New Haven

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in New Haven. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 230,532 to 302,730, a 31% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in New Haven

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. Currently, 6,488 homes in New Haven are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 621% gain from 2016, when 900 homes used 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 heating oil usage varies annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 households heating with heating oil, picking which of the 274 heating oil companies that serve New Haven is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 1990 “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 fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 New Haven cash heating oil companies serving New Haven include Boss Oil Co LLC and Angel Fuel LLC.

New Haven Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving New Haven: 274 companies .
Average Number of New Haven Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 1794

New Haven Heating Oil Delivery Overview

491,612 households in New Haven heat their homes with number two heating 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 households are reliant 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

3398 New Haven Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 397,280,973 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to New Haven residences the last heating season, the New Haven community depends on its 3398 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: 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 area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Fairfield County, CT

Hartford County, CT

Litchfield County, CT

New London County, CT

Tolland County, CT

Windham County, CT