Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chautauqua Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Chautauqua, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Chautauqua families 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%).
Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Chautauqua. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of families using number two heating oil dipped from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chautauqua
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 jumped from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Chautauqua
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Chautauqua. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Chautauqua
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 Chautauqua are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes utilized active solar heating.
Chautauqua County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Chautauqua County homeowners purchased a total of 130,115 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Chautauqua’s overall oil use changes annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Chautauqua was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Chautauqua County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Chautauqua County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Chautauqua homeowners heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua. Full service companies such as Lictus Keystone Inc or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “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 number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Chautauqua cash heating oil companies serving Chautauqua include Tps Supply Corp Tps Petroleum Suppliers and Danielson Oil Company Inc.
Chautauqua Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Chautauqua: 3 companies .
Average Number of Chautauqua Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 367774
Chautauqua Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Chautauqua heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chautauqua temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Chautauqua homes are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of Chautauqua County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Chautauqua County Households | Chautauqua County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
3 Chautauqua Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Chautauqua households during this past winter, the Chautauqua community relies on its 3 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 Chautauqua, 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 Chautauqua and the surrounding vicinity.
