Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chenango Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Chenango, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Chenango homeowners 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%).
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 popular in Chenango. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of households using number two heating oil decreased from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chenango
Between 2014 and today, the number of households 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 increased from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Chenango
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Chenango. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% 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 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. Today, 16,434 homes in Chenango are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes utilized 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 changes yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, 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 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 homes heating with 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 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 heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are looking to save money. 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Chenango cash heating oil companies serving Chenango include Reese Marshall and Paul Oil Company Inc.
Chenango Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: 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 houses 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 houses are reliant 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 Homeowners Can Count On
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Chenango homeowners last winter, the Chenango community looks to its 23 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Chenango and the surrounding region.
