Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Allegany Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Allegany, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Allegany households 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%).
Allegany 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 Allegany
Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Allegany. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using oil declined from 1,901,118 to 1,103,323, a 42% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Allegany
Between 2012 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 237,738 to 377,922, a 59% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,044,389 to 4,725,574, a 17% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Allegany
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Allegany. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 775,390 to 1,365,710, a 76% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Allegany
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Allegany are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 658% gain from 2012, when 2,168 homes utilized active solar heating.
Allegany County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Allegany County homeowners purchased a total of 163,849 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Allegany’s overall heating oil usage fluctuates each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Allegany was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Allegany County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Allegany County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Allegany families heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Allegany makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 2 “full-service” oil companies that serve Allegany. Full service companies such as Rinker Oil Corporation or Shorts Oil Company Inc offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 0 Allegany cash heating oil companies serving Allegany include and .
Allegany Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Allegany: 2 companies .
Average Number of Allegany Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 551662
Allegany Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 houses in Allegany heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Allegany temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Allegany residences depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of Allegany County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Allegany County Households | Allegany County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
2 Allegany Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Allegany houses the last heating season, the Allegany community looks to its 2 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Allegany, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Allegany and the surrounding area.
