Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: New London Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host 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 households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for New London 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%).
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
Oil has become losing popularity in New London. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using oil fell from 615,734 to 491,612, a 20% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in New London
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 43,849 to 88,504, a 102% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 442,443 to 537,918, a 22% change.
Electricity use for home heating in New London
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in New London. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 212,708 to 302,730, a 42% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in New London
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 New London are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1616% gain from 2012, when 378 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 fuel oil usage fluctuates from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of 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 families heating with heating oil, picking 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 value 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 households 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 fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 clients 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 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 Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving New London: 125 companies .
Average Number of New London Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 3933
New London Heating Oil Delivery Overview
491,612 households in New London heat their homes with fuel 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 households depend 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 Trust
With 397,280,973 gallons of fuel oil delivered to New London houses last winter, the New London community relies on its 1469 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout New London and the surrounding vicinity.