Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: New London Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in New London, used by 537,918 or 37% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for New London households is Heating Oil, used by 491,612 homes (34%). The remaining homes are heated with Electricity (21%), Propane (6%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).
New London 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 London
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in New London. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of families using fuel oil declined from 532,053 to 491,612, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in New London
Between 2021 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 ramped up from 506,772 to 537,918, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in New London
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in New London. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 258,306 to 302,730, a 17% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in New London
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 6,488 homes in New London are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 119% gain from 2021, when 2,966 homes incorporated active solar heating.
New London County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, New London County homeowners purchased a total of 42 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
New London’s overall number two heating oil use changes yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in New London was 30.6°F, which was 4.6°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
New London County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 30.6° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 35.2° F |
New London County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For New London homeowners heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 125 heating oil companies that serve New London plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 788 “full-service” oil companies that serve New London. Full service companies such as Aaa Oil Company or CW Knight Oil & Heating LLC offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic 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: 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 exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 New London cash heating oil companies serving New London include Asi Oil LLC and Bystrek's Oil Company LLC.
New London Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving New London: 125 companies .
Average Number of New London Households Served per Heating Oil company : 3933
New London Heating Oil Delivery Overview
491,612 houses in New London heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when New London temperatures drop as low as 25.1° F each winter. 33.7% of New London residences rely on oil delivery each winter.
16.8% of New London County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| New London County Households | New London County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 2.9M | 491,612 |
1469 New London Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 397,280,973 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to New London households last winter, the New London community depends on its 1469 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 New London, 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 New London and the surrounding vicinity.