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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Nassau Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Nassau, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Nassau 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%).

Nassau County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
20254,725,574377,9221,365,7101,103,32392,05416,434100,232
20244,679,558370,9101,292,8681,143,78396,14715,25997,524
20234,581,041402,3351,263,7001,212,850100,01511,208104,369
20224,542,443400,9691,190,8801,279,26099,08011,314103,810
20214,489,009388,3111,118,0151,293,770108,2028,85898,952
20204,504,504353,9441,014,7301,343,665111,1068,77889,024
20194,519,999319,576911,4451,393,560114,0118,69779,096
20184,397,917308,020890,5541,459,976120,1596,02282,621
20174,339,349294,973867,9251,496,843122,0885,98877,386
20164,227,422273,838860,8561,540,787126,8906,53579,479
20154,202,413265,224808,3701,649,860141,0163,12078,999
20144,186,666258,775770,5771,752,656145,0122,57376,963
20134,074,510259,367764,4001,802,442148,4222,52581,841
20124,044,389237,738775,3901,901,118155,6032,16861,429
20114,014,222222,634707,0161,979,067143,2872,72863,609
20103,961,085227,607676,2622,068,004143,2421,82361,664

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Nassau

Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Nassau. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of households using fuel oil fell 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 houses 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 shot 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 increasing in demand 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

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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Nassau are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes utilized 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 heating oil usage changes annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202528.1° F
2023 - 202433.5° F

Nassau County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Nassau homeowners heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 220 heating oil companies that serve Nassau is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick 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 households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Nassau cash heating oil companies serving Nassau include Best Price Fuel Oil Inc and Rosales Oil Company Inc.

Nassau Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Nassau: 220 companies .
Average Number of Nassau Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 5015

Nassau Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 homes 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 rely on heating oil delivery each winter.

7% of Nassau County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Nassau County HouseholdsNassau County Heating Oil Households
15.6M1.1M

9424 Nassau Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Nassau homes the last heating season, the Nassau community relies on its 9424 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 Nassau, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Nassau and the surrounding area.