Residences 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 residents 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%).

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

Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Niagara. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of homeowners using oil fell from 1,393,560 to 1,103,323, a 21% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Niagara

Between 2019 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 319,576 to 377,922, a 18% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 4,519,999 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Niagara

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Niagara. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 911,445 to 1,365,710, a 50% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Niagara

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 Niagara are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 89% gain from 2019, when 8,697 homes had 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 fuel oil use varies from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, 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 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 families heating with oil, choosing which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Niagara 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 choose one of the 10 “full-service” oil companies that serve Niagara. Full service companies such as Drum Oil Inc or The Maunz Corporation offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating 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 client 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 households who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Niagara cash heating oil companies serving Niagara include Noco Energy Corp and Ken Wendts Propane Gas Service Inc.

Niagara Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Niagara: 6 companies .
Average Number of Niagara Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 183887

Niagara Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 homes in Niagara heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Niagara temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Niagara residences are reliant on 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Niagara families last winter, the Niagara community relies on its 48 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 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 homes and businesses throughout Niagara and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Chautauqua County, NY

Erie County, NY

Genesee County, NY

Livingston County, NY