Cheapest Columbia County Heating Oil Price History
Updated Today at 09:15 AM
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 02/02/2026 | $3.699 |
| 02/01/2026 | $3.678 |
| 01/31/2026 | $3.677 |
| 01/30/2026 | $3.676 |
| 01/29/2026 | $3.656 |
| 01/28/2026 | $3.569 |
| 01/27/2026 | $3.349 |
| 01/26/2026 | $3.349 |
| 01/25/2026 | $3.199 |
| 01/24/2026 | $3.199 |
| 01/23/2026 | $3.199 |
| 01/22/2026 | $3.199 |
| 01/21/2026 | $3.199 |
| 01/20/2026 | $3.173 |
| 01/19/2026 | $3.161 |
| 01/18/2026 | $3.163 |
| 01/17/2026 | $3.168 |
| 01/16/2026 | $3.168 |
| 01/15/2026 | $3.170 |
| 01/14/2026 | $3.163 |
| 01/13/2026 | $3.155 |
| 01/12/2026 | $3.158 |
| 01/11/2026 | $3.172 |
| 01/10/2026 | $3.174 |
| 01/09/2026 | $3.177 |
| 01/08/2026 | $3.182 |
| 01/07/2026 | $3.194 |
| 01/06/2026 | $3.197 |
| 01/05/2026 | $3.198 |
| 01/04/2026 | $3.199 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Columbia Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Columbia, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Columbia 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%).
Columbia 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 Columbia
Oil has become less popular in Columbia. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dipped from 1,802,442 to 1,103,323, a 39% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Columbia
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 259,367 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,074,510 to 4,725,574, a 16% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Columbia
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Columbia. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 764,400 to 1,365,710, a 79% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Columbia
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Columbia are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 551% gain from 2013, when 2,525 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Columbia County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Columbia County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Columbia’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn additional oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Columbia was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Columbia County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Columbia County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Columbia residences heating with oil, choosing which of the 44 heating oil companies that serve Columbia is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 271 “full-service” oil companies that serve Columbia. Full service companies such as Morse Fuels LLC or C A Albright & Sons LLC offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating 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 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 clients who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Columbia cash heating oil companies serving Columbia include Collins & Son Inc and Lucky Petroleum Inc.
Columbia Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Columbia: 44 companies .
