Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Jefferson Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Jefferson, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Jefferson 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%).
Jefferson 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 Jefferson
Heating oil has become less popular in Jefferson. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of households using oil fell from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Jefferson
Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 258,775 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Jefferson
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Jefferson. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Jefferson
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. Currently, 16,434 homes in Jefferson are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Jefferson County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Jefferson County homeowners purchased a total of 349,865 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Jefferson’s overall heating oil consumption changes each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Jefferson was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Jefferson County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Jefferson County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Jefferson families heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Jefferson plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Jefferson. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Jefferson cash heating oil companies serving Jefferson include Philly Fuels Inc and Philly Fuels Inc.
Jefferson Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Jefferson: 2 companies .
Average Number of Jefferson Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 551662
Jefferson Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 families in Jefferson heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Jefferson temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Jefferson households are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Jefferson County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Jefferson County Households | Jefferson County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
3 Jefferson Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Jefferson families during this past winter, the Jefferson community relies on its 3 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 Jefferson, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Jefferson and the surrounding vicinity.
