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 families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Niagara homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The other 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

Heating oil has become less popular in Niagara. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using number two heating oil dipped from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Niagara

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 increased from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Niagara

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Niagara. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Niagara

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Now, 16,434 homes in Niagara are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes used 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 consumption varies from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 heating oil, picking which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Niagara can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select 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 oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: 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 when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Niagara cash heating oil companies serving Niagara include Noco Energy Corp and Ken Wendts Propane Gas Service Inc.

Niagara Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: 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 homes in Niagara heat their homes with fuel 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 Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Niagara households during this past winter, the Niagara community depends on its 48 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery is a two step process: 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 number two heating oil to residences and companies 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