Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Sullivan Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Sullivan, used by 212,831 or 37% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Sullivan homeowners is Natural Gas, used by 124,974 homes (22%). The rest of the homes are heated with Propane (21%), Electricity (12%), Wood (6%), and Other (2%).
Sullivan County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 124,974 | 121,512 | 70,926 | 212,831 | 32,268 | 2,474 | 11,835 |
| 2024 | 126,691 | 116,162 | 68,090 | 211,416 | 29,746 | 2,147 | 11,751 |
| 2023 | 118,533 | 112,909 | 64,436 | 221,554 | 35,424 | 1,544 | 10,170 |
| 2022 | 121,267 | 103,967 | 61,455 | 223,612 | 30,964 | 909 | 10,992 |
| 2021 | 121,966 | 102,208 | 58,765 | 218,724 | 30,381 | 890 | 10,002 |
| 2020 | 118,607 | 98,116 | 56,313 | 223,224 | 32,446 | 761 | 9,755 |
| 2019 | 115,248 | 94,024 | 53,861 | 227,725 | 34,512 | 632 | 9,508 |
| 2018 | 113,986 | 86,695 | 50,260 | 232,152 | 35,632 | 411 | 8,224 |
| 2017 | 111,070 | 90,341 | 47,927 | 227,681 | 37,912 | 575 | 8,850 |
| 2016 | 110,428 | 81,949 | 48,677 | 229,187 | 35,047 | 666 | 9,880 |
| 2015 | 103,292 | 78,670 | 46,002 | 232,674 | 42,472 | 488 | 10,268 |
| 2014 | 100,601 | 76,212 | 46,268 | 230,361 | 49,555 | 275 | 10,068 |
| 2013 | 101,529 | 76,485 | 42,038 | 239,542 | 44,711 | 334 | 9,251 |
| 2012 | 104,858 | 72,091 | 39,257 | 245,324 | 43,948 | 593 | 7,870 |
| 2011 | 100,958 | 74,416 | 40,613 | 252,159 | 37,084 | 280 | 7,019 |
| 2010 | 100,857 | 70,863 | 41,909 | 253,772 | 40,272 | 85 | 4,752 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Sullivan
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Sullivan. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of households using number two heating oil decreased from 239,542 to 212,831, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Sullivan
Between 2013 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 76,485 to 121,512, a 59% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 101,529 to 124,974, a 23% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Sullivan
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Sullivan. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 42,038 to 70,926, a 69% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Sullivan
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. Now, 2,474 homes in Sullivan are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 641% gain from 2013, when 334 homes used active solar heating.
Sullivan County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Sullivan County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Sullivan’s overall oil use changes from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Sullivan was 24.1°F, which was 5.3°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Sullivan County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29.4° F |
Sullivan County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Sullivan residences heating with oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Sullivan is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 7 “full-service” oil companies that serve Sullivan. Full service companies such as Goodrich Oil & Propane Co or Goodrich Oil & Propane Co offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are looking to save money. 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 Sullivan cash heating oil companies serving Sullivan include RE Hinkley Co Inc and Welch Fuel Company.
Sullivan Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Sullivan: 4 companies .
Average Number of Sullivan Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 53208
Sullivan Heating Oil Delivery Overview
212,831 houses in Sullivan heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Sullivan temperatures drop as low as 16.9° F each winter. 36.9% of Sullivan households rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
18.4% of Sullivan County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Sullivan County Households | Sullivan County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.1M | 212,831 |
25 Sullivan Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 199,461,865 gallons of oil delivered to Sullivan homeowners the last heating season, the Sullivan community looks to its 25 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Sullivan, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Gulf in Chelsea, MA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Sullivan and the surrounding region.
