Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Jefferson Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Jefferson, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Jefferson families is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Jefferson 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 Jefferson
Oil has become less popular in Jefferson. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of households using oil dropped 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 grew 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 shot up 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 more popular in Jefferson. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Jefferson
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. 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 number two heating oil consumption fluctuates from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 residences heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Jefferson makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Jefferson. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners 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 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 customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel 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 Jefferson cash heating oil companies serving Jefferson include Philly Fuels Inc and Philly Fuels Inc.
Jefferson Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Jefferson: 2 companies .
Average Number of Jefferson Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 551662
Jefferson Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 families in Jefferson heat their homes with number two 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 fuel 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 Trust
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Jefferson homeowners the last heating season, the Jefferson community depends on its 3 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 Jefferson, 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 Jefferson and the surrounding vicinity.
