Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: New York Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in New York, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for New York 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%).
New York 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 New York
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in New York. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of homeowners using oil decreased from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in New York
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 ramped up from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in New York
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in New York. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in New York
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Today, 16,434 homes in New York are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes utilized active solar heating.
New York County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, New York County homeowners purchased a total of 61 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
New York’s overall number two heating oil consumption fluctuates each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in New York was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
New York County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
New York County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For New York homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 122 heating oil companies that serve New York is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 59 “full-service” oil companies that serve New York. Full service companies such as Plitnick Home Fuel & Service Co LLC or Nrg Heat & Power LLC offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 clients who are on a budget. 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 you're running low. A few of the 2 New York cash heating oil companies serving New York include Ronco Oil Inc and Nyc Oil & Energy Corp.
New York Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving New York: 122 companies .
Average Number of New York Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 9044
New York Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in New York heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when New York temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of New York families rely on oil delivery each winter.
7% of New York County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| New York County Households | New York County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
122 New York Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to New York homeowners last winter, the New York community relies on its 122 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 New York, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout New York and the surrounding region.
