Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Fulton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Fulton, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Fulton 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%).
Fulton 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 Fulton
Oil has become less popular in Fulton. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of families using heating oil dipped from 1,649,860 to 1,103,323, a 33% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Fulton
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 265,224 to 377,922, a 42% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,202,413 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Fulton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Fulton. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 808,370 to 1,365,710, a 69% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Fulton
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. Now, 16,434 homes in Fulton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 427% gain from 2015, when 3,120 homes used active solar heating.
Fulton County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Fulton County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Fulton’s overall number two heating oil usage varies each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Fulton was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Fulton County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Fulton County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Fulton homeowners heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 14 heating oil companies that serve Fulton is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 14 “full-service” oil companies that serve Fulton. Full service companies such as Pne Transportation Inc Egelston Oil Company or James H Sprung Elocin Oil Co offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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 households who are on a budget. 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 Fulton cash heating oil companies serving Fulton include Countryside Management Corp Countryside Fuels and Neri Oil Company Inc.
Fulton Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Fulton: 14 companies .
Average Number of Fulton Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 78809
Fulton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 families in Fulton heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Fulton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Fulton homes depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of Fulton County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Fulton County Households | Fulton County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
42 Fulton Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Fulton households during this past winter, the Fulton community relies on its 42 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 Fulton, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Fulton and the surrounding area.
