Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Clinton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Clinton, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Clinton households 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%).
Clinton 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 Clinton
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Clinton. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of residents using number two heating oil dipped from 1,143,783 to 1,103,323, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Clinton
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose 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 jumped from 4,679,558 to 4,725,574, a 1% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Clinton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Clinton. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,292,868 to 1,365,710, a 6% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Clinton
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. Now, 16,434 homes in Clinton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 8% gain from 2024, when 15,259 homes utilized active solar heating.
Clinton County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Clinton County homeowners purchased a total of 4 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Clinton’s overall number two heating oil consumption changes yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Clinton was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Clinton County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Clinton County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Clinton families heating with oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Clinton plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 7 “full-service” oil companies that serve Clinton. Full service companies such as Leroux Enterprises LLC or Leroux Enterprises LLC offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower 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. Some of the 2 Clinton cash heating oil companies serving Clinton include Au Sable Valley Fuel Incorporated Gordon Oil and Church Oil Co Inc.
Clinton Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Clinton: 4 companies .
Average Number of Clinton Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 275831
Clinton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 households in Clinton heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Clinton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Clinton residences rely on oil delivery each winter.
7% of Clinton County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Clinton County Households | Clinton County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
24 Clinton Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Clinton families last winter, the Clinton community depends on its 24 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Clinton, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Clinton and the surrounding region.
