Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Herkimer, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Herkimer 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%).

Herkimer 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 Herkimer

Fuel oil has become less popular in Herkimer. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of residents using number two heating oil fell from 1,393,560 to 1,103,323, a 21% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Herkimer

Between 2019 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 319,576 to 377,922, a 18% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,519,999 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Herkimer

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Herkimer. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 911,445 to 1,365,710, a 50% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Herkimer

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 Herkimer are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 89% gain from 2019, when 8,697 homes utilized active solar heating.

Herkimer County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Herkimer County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Herkimer’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Herkimer was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Herkimer County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	28.1° F
2023 - 2024	33.5° F

Herkimer County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Herkimer homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 18 heating oil companies that serve Herkimer 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 pick one of the 43 “full-service” oil companies that serve Herkimer. Full service companies such as Thermo Petroleum Products Inc or Harbor Point Energy Products LLC offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Herkimer cash heating oil companies serving Herkimer include Conservative Petroleum LLC and Jennison Fuels LLC.

Herkimer Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Herkimer: 18 companies .
Average Number of Herkimer Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 61296

Herkimer Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 homes in Herkimer heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Herkimer temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Herkimer families depend on heating oil delivery each winter.

7% of Herkimer County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Herkimer County Households	Herkimer County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

79 Herkimer Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Herkimer households the last heating season, the Herkimer community relies on its 79 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Herkimer, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Herkimer and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Montgomery County, NY

Oneida County, NY

Otsego County, NY

Schoharie County, NY