Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Herkimer, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The next 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 (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	54,345,995	3,852,351	15,152,300	12,150,215	1,528,832	49,551	965,942
2024	54,568,071	4,135,191	14,304,766	13,657,397	1,395,422	79,805	1,053,660
2023	54,602,419	4,386,014	13,489,574	15,145,446	1,265,719	107,463	1,131,873
2022	54,363,807	4,339,040	12,803,543	15,992,578	1,257,805	108,288	1,140,235
2021	54,061,475	4,114,307	12,000,235	16,632,522	1,324,256	95,189	1,095,930
2020	53,323,524	3,897,922	11,354,669	17,154,552	1,391,480	89,123	1,048,120
2019	52,462,179	3,661,802	10,730,044	17,860,046	1,474,191	79,739	1,002,000
2018	51,769,199	3,468,945	10,231,832	18,719,789	1,565,542	65,316	975,337
2017	51,058,554	3,343,718	9,951,967	19,572,893	1,642,923	54,401	975,306
2016	50,300,624	3,211,343	9,723,022	20,393,885	1,707,981	44,807	948,347
2015	49,678,528	3,073,822	9,410,192	21,345,530	1,750,824	35,228	904,279
2014	49,145,092	2,965,973	9,071,735	22,384,709	1,772,839	29,310	861,878
2013	48,519,646	2,875,722	8,724,939	23,380,223	1,770,703	26,140	819,051
2012	47,926,394	2,781,777	8,347,598	24,455,338	1,731,834	23,111	769,203
2011	47,264,555	2,714,802	8,011,428	25,566,431	1,655,190	20,508	741,884
2010	46,499,120	2,678,889	7,666,509	26,676,046	1,566,890	21,918	748,535

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Herkimer

Heating oil has become less frequently used in Herkimer. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of families using number two heating oil dropped from 1,343,665 to 1,103,323, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Herkimer

Between 2020 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 353,944 to 377,922, a 7% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 4,504,504 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Herkimer

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Herkimer. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,014,730 to 1,365,710, a 35% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Herkimer

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 87% gain from 2020, when 8,778 homes had 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 heating oil consumption changes annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Herkimer was 26.9°F, which was 1°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Herkimer County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	22.2° F
2023 - 2024	23° F

Herkimer County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Herkimer residences heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 18 heating oil companies that serve Herkimer can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: 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 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 Herkimer cash heating oil companies serving Herkimer include Conservative Petroleum LLC and Jennison Fuels LLC.

Herkimer Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Herkimer: 18 companies .
Average Number of Herkimer Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 3033

Herkimer Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 households in Herkimer heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Herkimer temperatures drop as low as 27° F each winter. 14% of Herkimer homes are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

20.34% of Herkimer County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Herkimer County Households	Herkimer County Heating Oil Households
268,379	54,588

79 Herkimer Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 664,748,714.28 gallons of heating oil delivered to Herkimer homes the last heating season, the Herkimer community depends on its 79 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 Herkimer, 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 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