Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Ontario Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Ontario, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Ontario households 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%).
Ontario 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 Ontario
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Ontario. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of residents using heating oil fell from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Ontario
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 shot up from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Ontario
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Ontario. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Ontario
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 Ontario are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 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 fuel oil use changes annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 households heating with oil, picking which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Ontario is an important decision.
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 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 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 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 you're running low. A few of the 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: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Ontario: 4 companies .
Average Number of Ontario Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 275831
Ontario Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 households 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 rely on 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 Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Ontario homes last winter, the Ontario community looks to its 15 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 Ontario, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Ontario and the surrounding vicinity.
