Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bronx Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Bronx, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Bronx residents 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%).
Bronx 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 Bronx
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Bronx. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using fuel oil dropped from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bronx
Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 308,020 to 377,922, a 23% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bronx
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Bronx. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Bronx
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Now, 16,434 homes in Bronx are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes utilized active solar heating.
Bronx County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Bronx County homeowners purchased a total of 73 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Bronx’s overall number two heating oil use varies each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Bronx was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Bronx County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Bronx County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Bronx homes heating with oil, selecting which of the 119 heating oil companies that serve Bronx 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 58 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bronx. Full service companies such as Plitnick Home Fuel & Service Co LLC or Nrg Heat & Power LLC 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 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 customer 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 looking to save money. 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Bronx cash heating oil companies serving Bronx include Ronco Oil Inc and TDR Heating Corp.
Bronx Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Bronx: 119 companies .
Average Number of Bronx Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 9272
Bronx Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Bronx heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bronx temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Bronx residences rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Bronx County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Bronx County Households | Bronx County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
119 Bronx Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Bronx homeowners during this past winter, the Bronx community looks to its 119 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 Bronx, 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 Bronx and the surrounding area.
