Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Albany Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety 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 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Albany residents is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Albany County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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
Fuel oil has become less popular in Albany. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil declined from 1,540,787 to 1,103,323, a 28% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Albany
Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 273,838 to 377,922, a 38% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 4,227,422 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Albany
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Albany. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 860,856 to 1,365,710, a 59% 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 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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Albany are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 151% gain from 2016, when 6,535 homes used 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 oil use changes yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces 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 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 homes heating with heating oil, picking which of the 60 heating oil companies that serve Albany is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 322 “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 HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Albany cash heating oil companies serving Albany include Collins & Son Inc and MainCare Express.
Albany Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Albany: 60 companies .
Average Number of Albany Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 18389
Albany Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Albany heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Albany temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Albany families depend on fuel 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 |
606 Albany Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Albany households during this past winter, the Albany community relies on its 606 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 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 residences and companies throughout Albany and the surrounding region.
