Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Cayuga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Cayuga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Cayuga families 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%).
Cayuga 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 Cayuga
Oil has become less frequently used in Cayuga. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of households using oil decreased from 1,496,843 to 1,103,323, a 26% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Cayuga
Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 294,973 to 377,922, a 28% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,339,349 to 4,725,574, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Cayuga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Cayuga. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 867,925 to 1,365,710, a 57% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Cayuga
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 Cayuga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes had 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 changes from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers 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 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 heating oil, picking which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Cayuga is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are on a budget. 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Cayuga cash heating oil companies serving Cayuga include Vannorstrand Oil Company LLC and Vannorstrand Oil Company LLC.
Cayuga Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel 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 residences in Cayuga heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Cayuga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Cayuga houses are reliant on 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 depends on its 3 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 Cayuga, 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 homes and businesses throughout Cayuga and the surrounding area.
