Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chenango Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Chenango, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Chenango homeowners 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%).
Chenango 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 Chenango
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Chenango. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using fuel oil dropped from 1,143,783 to 1,103,323, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chenango
Between 2024 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 370,910 to 377,922, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,679,558 to 4,725,574, a 1% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Chenango
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Chenango. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,292,868 to 1,365,710, a 6% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Chenango
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 16,434 homes in Chenango are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 8% gain from 2024, when 15,259 homes used active solar heating.
Chenango County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Chenango County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Chenango’s overall fuel oil consumption varies from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Chenango was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Chenango County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Chenango County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Chenango households heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Chenango is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 11 “full-service” oil companies that serve Chenango. Full service companies such as Blueox Corporation Blueox Neighborhood Markets or Broedel Fuel Group LLC offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC 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 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 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. Examples of 2 Chenango cash heating oil companies serving Chenango include Reese Marshall and Paul Oil Company Inc.
Chenango Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Chenango: 7 companies .
Average Number of Chenango Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 157618
Chenango Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Chenango heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chenango temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Chenango houses rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Chenango County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Chenango County Households | Chenango County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
23 Chenango Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Chenango families last winter, the Chenango community depends on its 23 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 Chenango, 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 Chenango and the surrounding area.
