Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Clinton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice 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 households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Clinton families 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%).
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
Heating oil has become less popular in Clinton. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using number two heating oil declined from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Clinton
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 308,020 to 377,922, a 23% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Clinton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Clinton. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Clinton
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 Clinton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 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 number two heating oil use changes annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 fuel oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Clinton is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer 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 families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households 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 Clinton cash heating oil companies serving Clinton include Au Sable Valley Fuel Incorporated Gordon Oil and Church Oil Co Inc.
Clinton Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Clinton: 4 companies .
Average Number of Clinton Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 275831
Clinton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Clinton heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Clinton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Clinton households depend on number two heating 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 Homeowners Can Count On
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Clinton houses the last heating season, the Clinton community relies on its 24 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 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.
