Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Montgomery Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Montgomery, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Montgomery households is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Montgomery 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 Montgomery
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Montgomery. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using heating oil dipped from 1,143,783 to 1,103,323, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montgomery
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 370,910 to 377,922, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,679,558 to 4,725,574, a 1% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Montgomery
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Montgomery. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,292,868 to 1,365,710, a 6% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Montgomery
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 Montgomery are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 8% gain from 2024, when 15,259 homes utilized active solar heating.
Montgomery County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Montgomery County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Montgomery’s overall oil use varies yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Montgomery was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Montgomery County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Montgomery County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Montgomery homes heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve Montgomery is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 56 “full-service” oil companies that serve Montgomery. Full service companies such as Pne Transportation Inc Egelston Oil Company or James H Sprung Elocin Oil Co offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Montgomery cash heating oil companies serving Montgomery include Countryside Management Corp Countryside Fuels and Neri Oil Company Inc.
Montgomery Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Montgomery: 23 companies .
Average Number of Montgomery Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 47971
Montgomery Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Montgomery heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montgomery temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Montgomery houses depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Montgomery County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Montgomery County Households | Montgomery County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
117 Montgomery Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Montgomery households the last heating season, the Montgomery community depends on its 117 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 Montgomery, 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 Montgomery and the surrounding region.
