Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Oswego Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Oswego, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Oswego residents 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%).
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
Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Oswego. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using oil fell from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Oswego
Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up 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 jumped from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Oswego
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Oswego. 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 Oswego
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. Now, 16,434 homes in Oswego are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes had 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 annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 homes heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Oswego makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 1 “full-service” oil companies that serve Oswego. Full service companies such as Hoffman Fuel Company Of Danbury or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 households who are looking to save money. 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 when you're running low. A few of the 2 Oswego cash heating oil companies serving Oswego include The Glider Oil Company Inc and North Shore Oil Company Inc.
Oswego Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Oswego: 5 companies .
Average Number of Oswego Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 220665
Oswego Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Oswego heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Oswego temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Oswego houses depend 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Oswego households last winter, the Oswego community relies on its 29 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Oswego and the surrounding region.
