Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Broome Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular 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
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Broome. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of families using heating oil decreased from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Broome
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 Broome
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Broome. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Broome
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 Broome are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes incorporated 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 oil use varies yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional fuel 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 residences heating with fuel oil, selecting 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 are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 clients 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. Some of the 0 Broome cash heating oil companies serving Broome include and .
Broome Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating 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 oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Broome temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Broome houses rely on 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 Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Broome houses last winter, the Broome community looks to its 51 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Broome and the surrounding vicinity.