Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Essex Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Essex, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Essex residents 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%).
Essex 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 Essex
Fuel oil has become less popular in Essex. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dropped from 1,540,787 to 1,103,323, a 28% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Essex
Between 2016 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 273,838 to 377,922, a 38% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 4,227,422 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Essex
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Essex. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 860,856 to 1,365,710, a 59% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Essex
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. Today, 16,434 homes in Essex are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 151% gain from 2016, when 6,535 homes utilized active solar heating.
Essex County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Essex County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Essex’s overall number two heating oil consumption changes each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Essex was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Essex County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Essex County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Essex homeowners heating with oil, choosing which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Essex can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 11 “full-service” oil companies that serve Essex. Full service companies such as Leroux Enterprises LLC or PJ Hyde & Son Inc offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Essex cash heating oil companies serving Essex include Au Sable Valley Fuel Incorporated Gordon Oil and Church Oil Co Inc.
Essex Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Essex: 8 companies .
Average Number of Essex Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 137915
Essex Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Essex heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Essex temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Essex residences rely on oil delivery each winter.
7% of Essex County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Essex County Households | Essex County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
18 Essex Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Essex homes the last heating season, the Essex community depends on its 18 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Essex, 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 residences and companies throughout Essex and the surrounding area.
