Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Montgomery Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Montgomery, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Montgomery 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%).
Montgomery 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 Montgomery
Oil has become less frequently used in Montgomery. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of families using heating oil dropped 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 houses 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 increased 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 prevalent in Montgomery. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped 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 flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Today, 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 fuel oil consumption varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 residences heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve Montgomery can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose 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 households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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. Examples of 2 Montgomery cash heating oil companies serving Montgomery include Countryside Management Corp Countryside Fuels and Neri Oil Company Inc.
Montgomery Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Montgomery: 23 companies .
Average Number of Montgomery Households Served per Heating Oil company : 47971
Montgomery Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 houses in Montgomery heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montgomery temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Montgomery families are reliant on 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 fuel oil delivered to Montgomery houses the last heating season, the Montgomery community depends on its 117 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 oil to homes and businesses throughout Montgomery and the surrounding region.
