Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Ontario Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Ontario, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Ontario 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%).
Ontario County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Ontario
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Ontario. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of families using number two heating oil decreased from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Ontario
Between 2014 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 258,775 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Ontario
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Ontario. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Ontario
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Ontario are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes used active solar heating.
Ontario County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Ontario County homeowners purchased a total of 86,743 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Ontario’s overall oil usage fluctuates each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Ontario was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Ontario County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Ontario County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Ontario residences heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Ontario can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Ontario. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Ontario cash heating oil companies serving Ontario include Superior Plus Energy Services Inc Griffith Energy and Main Energy Inc.
Ontario Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Ontario: 4 companies .
Average Number of Ontario Households Served per Heating Oil company : 275831
Ontario Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 houses in Ontario heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Ontario temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Ontario households are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Ontario County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Ontario County Households | Ontario County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
15 Ontario Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Ontario houses last winter, the Ontario community looks to its 15 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Ontario, 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 Ontario and the surrounding area.
