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 common 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 remaining 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
Oil has become less popular in Onondaga. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using number two heating oil decreased from 1,540,787 to 1,103,323, a 28% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Onondaga
Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 273,838 to 377,922, a 38% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 4,227,422 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Onondaga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Onondaga. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 860,856 to 1,365,710, a 59% 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 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 Onondaga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 151% gain from 2016, when 6,535 homes incorporated 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 consumption fluctuates yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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, picking which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Onondaga can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
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 households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two 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 family 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 oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few 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 Households Served per 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 households depend on number two heating 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Onondaga residences during this past winter, the Onondaga community depends on its 4 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 Onondaga, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Onondaga and the surrounding area.
