Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Genesee Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Genesee, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Genesee homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Genesee 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 Genesee
Fuel oil has become less popular in Genesee. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of residents using heating oil fell from 1,901,118 to 1,103,323, a 42% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Genesee
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 237,738 to 377,922, a 59% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 4,044,389 to 4,725,574, a 17% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Genesee
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Genesee. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 775,390 to 1,365,710, a 76% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Genesee
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Now, 16,434 homes in Genesee are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 658% gain from 2012, when 2,168 homes utilized active solar heating.
Genesee County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Genesee County homeowners purchased a total of 320,951 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Genesee’s overall oil use changes each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Genesee was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Genesee County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Genesee County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Genesee households heating with oil, picking which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Genesee makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 6 “full-service” oil companies that serve Genesee. Full service companies such as Dave Reisdorf Inc Reisdorf Oil & Propane or Dave Reisdorf Inc Reisdorf Oil & Propane offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Genesee cash heating oil companies serving Genesee include Olear's Inc and Francis W King Petroleum Products.
Genesee Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Genesee: 5 companies .
Average Number of Genesee Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 220665
Genesee Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 households in Genesee heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Genesee temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Genesee households depend on oil delivery each winter.
7% of Genesee County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Genesee County Households | Genesee County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
9 Genesee Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Genesee homes last winter, the Genesee community depends on its 9 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 Genesee, 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 Genesee and the surrounding vicinity.
