Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Onondaga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Onondaga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Onondaga households 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%).
Onondaga 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 Onondaga
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Onondaga. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of homeowners using oil dropped from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Onondaga
Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew 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 Onondaga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Onondaga. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Onondaga
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. Today, 16,434 homes in Onondaga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes used active solar heating.
Onondaga County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Onondaga County homeowners purchased a total of 256,857 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Onondaga’s overall oil use changes yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Onondaga was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Onondaga County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Onondaga County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Onondaga households heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Onondaga plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 1 “full-service” oil companies that serve Onondaga. Full service companies such as E And V Energy Corporation or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the 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 Onondaga cash heating oil companies serving Onondaga include Ron Bush Oil Inc and Ron Bush Oil Inc.
Onondaga Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Onondaga: 3 companies .
Average Number of Onondaga Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 367774
Onondaga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Onondaga heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Onondaga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Onondaga families rely on oil delivery each winter.
7% of Onondaga County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Onondaga County Households | Onondaga County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
4 Onondaga Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Onondaga homes last winter, the Onondaga community relies on its 4 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Onondaga, 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 homes and businesses throughout Onondaga and the surrounding vicinity.
