Households have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Niagara, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Niagara families 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	54,345,995	3,852,351	15,152,300	12,150,215	1,528,832	49,551	965,942
2024	54,568,071	4,135,191	14,304,766	13,657,397	1,395,422	79,805	1,053,660
2023	54,602,419	4,386,014	13,489,574	15,145,446	1,265,719	107,463	1,131,873
2022	54,363,807	4,339,040	12,803,543	15,992,578	1,257,805	108,288	1,140,235
2021	54,061,475	4,114,307	12,000,235	16,632,522	1,324,256	95,189	1,095,930
2020	53,323,524	3,897,922	11,354,669	17,154,552	1,391,480	89,123	1,048,120
2019	52,462,179	3,661,802	10,730,044	17,860,046	1,474,191	79,739	1,002,000
2018	51,769,199	3,468,945	10,231,832	18,719,789	1,565,542	65,316	975,337
2017	51,058,554	3,343,718	9,951,967	19,572,893	1,642,923	54,401	975,306
2016	50,300,624	3,211,343	9,723,022	20,393,885	1,707,981	44,807	948,347
2015	49,678,528	3,073,822	9,410,192	21,345,530	1,750,824	35,228	904,279
2014	49,145,092	2,965,973	9,071,735	22,384,709	1,772,839	29,310	861,878
2013	48,519,646	2,875,722	8,724,939	23,380,223	1,770,703	26,140	819,051
2012	47,926,394	2,781,777	8,347,598	24,455,338	1,731,834	23,111	769,203
2011	47,264,555	2,714,802	8,011,428	25,566,431	1,655,190	20,508	741,884
2010	46,499,120	2,678,889	7,666,509	26,676,046	1,566,890	21,918	748,535

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Niagara

Oil has become decreasing in demand in Niagara. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of households using oil declined from 1,901,118 to 1,103,323, a 42% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Niagara

Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 237,738 to 377,922, a 59% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,044,389 to 4,725,574, a 17% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Niagara

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Niagara. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 775,390 to 1,365,710, a 76% 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 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 Niagara are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 658% gain from 2012, when 2,168 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Niagara County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Niagara homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Niagara can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer 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 families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler 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 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 clients 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 when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Niagara cash heating oil companies serving Niagara include Noco Energy Corp and Ken Wendts Propane Gas Service Inc.

Niagara Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Niagara: 6 companies .
Average Number of Niagara Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 6119

Niagara Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 households in Niagara heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Niagara temperatures drop as low as 27° F each winter. 14% of Niagara houses are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.

3.94% of Niagara County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Niagara County Households	Niagara County Heating Oil Households
932,908	36,716

48 Niagara Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 664,748,714.28 gallons of heating oil delivered to Niagara homeowners during this past winter, the Niagara community relies on its 48 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 Niagara, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Niagara and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Chautauqua County, NY

Erie County, NY

Genesee County, NY

Livingston County, NY