Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Fulton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety 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 families. 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 (No. 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
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Fulton. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dipped from 1,293,770 to 1,103,323, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Fulton
Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel declined from 388,311 to 377,922, a 3% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 4,489,009 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Fulton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Fulton. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,118,015 to 1,365,710, a 22% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Fulton
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Fulton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 86% gain from 2021, when 8,858 homes incorporated 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 annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of 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, picking 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 choose 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Fulton cash heating oil companies serving Fulton include Countryside Management Corp Countryside Fuels and Neri Oil Company Inc.
Fulton Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Fulton: 14 companies .
Average Number of Fulton Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 78809
Fulton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 households 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 residences rely on heating 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 Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating 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 is a two step process: 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 number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Fulton and the surrounding area.
