Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Onondaga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Onondaga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Onondaga homeowners 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%).
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
Fuel oil has become less popular in Onondaga. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of households using number two heating oil declined from 1,212,850 to 1,103,323, a 9% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Onondaga
Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped 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 ramped up from 4,581,041 to 4,725,574, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Onondaga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Onondaga. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,263,700 to 1,365,710, a 8% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Onondaga
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. Now, 16,434 homes in Onondaga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 47% gain from 2023, when 11,208 homes utilized 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 fuel oil usage fluctuates annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel 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 homeowners heating with 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 value 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: 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 you're running low. Some of the 2 Onondaga cash heating oil companies serving Onondaga include Ron Bush Oil Inc and Ron Bush Oil Inc.
Onondaga Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating 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 houses in Onondaga heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Onondaga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Onondaga residences are reliant on fuel 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 Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Onondaga residences the last heating season, the Onondaga community looks to its 4 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Onondaga, 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 Onondaga and the surrounding region.
