Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Allegany Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences 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 residents. The 2nd 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 (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
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Allegany. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of families using number two heating oil fell from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Allegany
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 258,775 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Allegany
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Allegany. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% 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 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 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 heating oil usage varies from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more fuel 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 homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Allegany is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower 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 Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Allegany: 2 companies .
Average Number of Allegany Households Served per Heating Oil company : 551662
Allegany Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 families 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 homes depend on heating 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Allegany households the last heating season, the Allegany community relies on its 2 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 Allegany, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Allegany and the surrounding vicinity.
