Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Broome Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Broome, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Broome households is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Broome 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 Broome
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Broome. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of households using oil fell from 1,901,118 to 1,103,323, a 42% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Broome
Between 2012 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up 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 increased from 4,044,389 to 4,725,574, a 17% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Broome
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Broome. 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 Broome
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. Today, 16,434 homes in Broome are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 658% gain from 2012, when 2,168 homes had active solar heating.
Broome County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Broome County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Broome’s overall fuel oil use changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Broome was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Broome County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Broome County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Broome homeowners heating with oil, choosing which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Broome plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 51 “full-service” oil companies that serve Broome. Full service companies such as Scott Smith & Son Inc or Rapp Petroleum Corporation Economy Heating Lindsey Oil offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic 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 client 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 families who are looking to save money. 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 you're running low. A few of the 0 Broome cash heating oil companies serving Broome include and .
Broome Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Broome: 5 companies .
Average Number of Broome Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 220665
Broome Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 households in Broome heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Broome temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Broome homes rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Broome County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Broome County Households | Broome County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
51 Broome Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Broome households during this past winter, the Broome community depends on its 51 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Broome, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Broome and the surrounding region.