Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Nassau Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Nassau, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Nassau residents 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%).
Nassau 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 Nassau
Fuel oil has become less popular in Nassau. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of households using oil dipped from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Nassau
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 308,020 to 377,922, a 23% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Nassau
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Nassau. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Nassau
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 Nassau are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Nassau County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Nassau County homeowners purchased a total of 65 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Nassau’s overall oil consumption changes annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Nassau was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Nassau County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Nassau County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Nassau families heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 220 heating oil companies that serve Nassau can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 3784 “full-service” oil companies that serve Nassau. Full service companies such as Lewisy Fuel Oil Inc or Beato Fuel And Appliance Corporation offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Nassau cash heating oil companies serving Nassau include Best Price Fuel Oil Inc and Rosales Oil Company Inc.
Nassau Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Nassau: 220 companies .
Average Number of Nassau Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 5015
Nassau Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 families in Nassau heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Nassau temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Nassau residences are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of Nassau County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Nassau County Households | Nassau County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
9424 Nassau Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Nassau houses last winter, the Nassau community looks to its 9424 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Nassau, 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 residences and companies throughout Nassau and the surrounding vicinity.