Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Fulton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host 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 homeowners. The next 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 9 years since 2016, the number of families using number two heating oil fell from 1,540,787 to 1,103,323, a 28% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Fulton
Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up 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 shot up from 4,227,422 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Fulton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Fulton. 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 Fulton
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 151% gain from 2016, when 6,535 homes had 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 as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 families heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 14 heating oil companies that serve Fulton makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for 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 households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 households who are on a budget. 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. Some of the 2 Fulton cash heating oil companies serving Fulton include Countryside Management Corp Countryside Fuels and Neri Oil Company Inc.
Fulton Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Fulton: 14 companies .
Average Number of Fulton Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 78809
Fulton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Fulton heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Fulton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Fulton residences are reliant 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 Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Fulton residences last winter, the Fulton community relies on its 42 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 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 residences and companies throughout Fulton and the surrounding vicinity.
