Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Oswego Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Oswego, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Oswego residents 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%).
Oswego 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 Oswego
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Oswego. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of homeowners using heating oil fell from 1,343,665 to 1,103,323, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Oswego
Between 2020 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 353,944 to 377,922, a 7% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,504,504 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Oswego
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Oswego. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,014,730 to 1,365,710, a 35% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Oswego
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Now, 16,434 homes in Oswego are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 87% gain from 2020, when 8,778 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Oswego County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Oswego County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Oswego’s overall oil usage changes each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Oswego was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Oswego County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Oswego County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Oswego households heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Oswego 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 Oswego. Full service companies such as Hoffman Fuel Company Of Danbury or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system 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 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 homeowners 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 when you're running low. Some of the 2 Oswego cash heating oil companies serving Oswego include The Glider Oil Company Inc and North Shore Oil Company Inc.
Oswego Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Oswego: 5 companies .
Average Number of Oswego Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 220665
Oswego Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Oswego heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Oswego temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Oswego families rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of Oswego County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Oswego County Households | Oswego County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
29 Oswego Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Oswego houses the last heating season, the Oswego community relies on its 29 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 Oswego, 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 residences and companies throughout Oswego and the surrounding vicinity.
