Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Cayuga 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 Cayuga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Cayuga families 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%).
Cayuga 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 Cayuga
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Cayuga. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of families using fuel oil decreased from 1,393,560 to 1,103,323, a 21% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Cayuga
Between 2019 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 319,576 to 377,922, a 18% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,519,999 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Cayuga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Cayuga. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 911,445 to 1,365,710, a 50% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Cayuga
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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Cayuga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 89% gain from 2019, when 8,697 homes utilized active solar heating.
Cayuga County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Cayuga County homeowners purchased a total of 551,303 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Cayuga’s overall oil consumption fluctuates each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Cayuga was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Cayuga County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Cayuga County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Cayuga residences heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Cayuga can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 1 “full-service” oil companies that serve Cayuga. Full service companies such as E And V Energy Corporation or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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 families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the 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 Cayuga cash heating oil companies serving Cayuga include Vannorstrand Oil Company LLC and Vannorstrand Oil Company LLC.
Cayuga Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Cayuga: 2 companies .
Average Number of Cayuga Households Served per Heating Oil company : 551662
Cayuga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Cayuga heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Cayuga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Cayuga residences rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Cayuga County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Cayuga County Households | Cayuga County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
3 Cayuga Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Cayuga residences the last heating season, the Cayuga community looks to its 3 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 Cayuga, 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 homes and businesses throughout Cayuga and the surrounding vicinity.
