Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Niagara, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Niagara 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%).

Niagara 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 Niagara

Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Niagara. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of families using oil fell from 1,212,850 to 1,103,323, a 9% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Niagara

Between 2023 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel decreased from 402,335 to 377,922, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,581,041 to 4,725,574, a 3% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Niagara

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Niagara. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,263,700 to 1,365,710, a 8% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Niagara

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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Niagara are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 47% gain from 2023, when 11,208 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Niagara County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Niagara County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Niagara’s overall number two heating oil use changes from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Niagara was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Niagara County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	28.1° F
2023 - 2024	33.5° F

Niagara County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Niagara homeowners heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Niagara plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 10 “full-service” oil companies that serve Niagara. Full service companies such as Drum Oil Inc or The Maunz Corporation offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel 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 Niagara cash heating oil companies serving Niagara include Noco Energy Corp and Ken Wendts Propane Gas Service Inc.

Niagara Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Niagara: 6 companies .
Average Number of Niagara Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 183887

Niagara Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 residences in Niagara heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Niagara temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Niagara houses are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.

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

Niagara County Households	Niagara County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

48 Niagara Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Niagara homes during this past winter, the Niagara community looks to its 48 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Niagara, 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 residences and companies throughout Niagara and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Chautauqua County, NY

Erie County, NY

Genesee County, NY

Livingston County, NY