Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chenango Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners 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 residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Chenango households 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
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Chenango. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of households using heating oil dropped from 1,293,770 to 1,103,323, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chenango
Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped from 388,311 to 377,922, a 3% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,489,009 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Chenango
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Chenango. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,118,015 to 1,365,710, a 22% 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 86% gain from 2021, when 8,858 homes incorporated 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 number two heating oil consumption fluctuates annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, 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 heating oil, picking which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Chenango makes a big difference.
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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Chenango cash heating oil companies serving Chenango include Reese Marshall and Paul Oil Company Inc.
Chenango Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Chenango: 7 companies .
Average Number of Chenango Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 157618
Chenango Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Chenango heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chenango temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Chenango homes 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 Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Chenango homeowners last winter, the Chenango community depends on its 23 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 Chenango, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Chenango and the surrounding vicinity.
