Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Clinton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Clinton, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Clinton residents 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%).
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
Oil has become less frequently used in Clinton. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using fuel oil decreased 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 homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 shot up 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 popular 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 flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 16,434 homes in Clinton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 8% gain from 2024, when 15,259 homes incorporated 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 fuel oil consumption varies annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 residences heating with fuel 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 number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel 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 Clinton cash heating oil companies serving Clinton include Au Sable Valley Fuel Incorporated Gordon Oil and Church Oil Co Inc.
Clinton Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: 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 houses 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 households are reliant 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 Trust
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Clinton residences during this past winter, the Clinton community depends on its 24 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Clinton, 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 residences and companies throughout Clinton and the surrounding region.
