Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chenango Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Chenango, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Chenango 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%).
Chenango 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 Chenango
Fuel oil has become less popular in Chenango. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of residents using heating oil decreased from 1,279,260 to 1,103,323, a 14% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chenango
Between 2022 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel decreased from 400,969 to 377,922, a 6% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,542,443 to 4,725,574, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Chenango
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Chenango. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,190,880 to 1,365,710, a 15% 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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Chenango are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 45% gain from 2022, when 11,314 homes had 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 usage fluctuates yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 fuel oil, picking which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Chenango makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two 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 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 families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Chenango cash heating oil companies serving Chenango include Reese Marshall and Paul Oil Company Inc.
Chenango Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Chenango: 7 companies .
Average Number of Chenango Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 157618
Chenango Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 houses 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 depend on 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Chenango residences the last heating season, the Chenango community looks to its 23 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: 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 oil to homes and businesses throughout Chenango and the surrounding region.
