Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Allegany Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Allegany, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Allegany households is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Allegany 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 Allegany
Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Allegany. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using fuel oil decreased from 1,540,787 to 1,103,323, a 28% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Allegany
Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 jumped from 4,227,422 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Allegany
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Allegany. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 860,856 to 1,365,710, a 59% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Allegany
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. Today, 16,434 homes in Allegany are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 151% gain from 2016, when 6,535 homes had 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 number two heating oil consumption varies yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 homeowners heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Allegany is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 0 Allegany cash heating oil companies serving Allegany include and .
Allegany Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Allegany: 2 companies .
Average Number of Allegany Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 551662
Allegany Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 households in Allegany heat their homes with 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 Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Allegany residences last winter, the Allegany community looks to its 2 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: 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 #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Allegany and the surrounding region.
