Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Albany, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Albany families is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).

Albany County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	4,725,574	377,922	1,365,710	1,103,323	92,054	16,434	100,232
2024	4,679,558	370,910	1,292,868	1,143,783	96,147	15,259	97,524
2023	4,581,041	402,335	1,263,700	1,212,850	100,015	11,208	104,369
2022	4,542,443	400,969	1,190,880	1,279,260	99,080	11,314	103,810
2021	4,489,009	388,311	1,118,015	1,293,770	108,202	8,858	98,952
2020	4,504,504	353,944	1,014,730	1,343,665	111,106	8,778	89,024
2019	4,519,999	319,576	911,445	1,393,560	114,011	8,697	79,096
2018	4,397,917	308,020	890,554	1,459,976	120,159	6,022	82,621
2017	4,339,349	294,973	867,925	1,496,843	122,088	5,988	77,386
2016	4,227,422	273,838	860,856	1,540,787	126,890	6,535	79,479
2015	4,202,413	265,224	808,370	1,649,860	141,016	3,120	78,999
2014	4,186,666	258,775	770,577	1,752,656	145,012	2,573	76,963
2013	4,074,510	259,367	764,400	1,802,442	148,422	2,525	81,841
2012	4,044,389	237,738	775,390	1,901,118	155,603	2,168	61,429
2011	4,014,222	222,634	707,016	1,979,067	143,287	2,728	63,609
2010	3,961,085	227,607	676,262	2,068,004	143,242	1,823	61,664

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Albany

Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Albany. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of households using fuel oil declined from 1,649,860 to 1,103,323, a 33% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Albany

Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 265,224 to 377,922, a 42% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,202,413 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Albany

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Albany. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 808,370 to 1,365,710, a 69% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Albany

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, 16,434 homes in Albany are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 427% gain from 2015, when 3,120 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Albany County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Albany County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Albany’s overall heating oil usage fluctuates yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Albany was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Albany County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	28.1° F
2023 - 2024	33.5° F

Albany County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Albany families heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 61 heating oil companies that serve Albany is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 323 “full-service” oil companies that serve Albany. Full service companies such as H & M Oil Co Inc Hoffman & Miller Oil Co or Helderberg Oil Inc offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Albany cash heating oil companies serving Albany include Collins & Son Inc and MainCare Express.

Albany Heating Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Albany: 61 companies .
Average Number of Albany Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 18087

Albany Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 families in Albany heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Albany temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Albany residences are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

7% of Albany County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Albany County Households	Albany County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

607 Albany Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Albany homes last winter, the Albany community depends on its 607 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 Albany, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Albany and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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