Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Otsego, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Otsego 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%).

Otsego 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 Otsego

Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Otsego. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of homeowners using fuel oil declined from 1,649,860 to 1,103,323, a 33% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Otsego

Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 265,224 to 377,922, a 42% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,202,413 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Otsego

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Otsego. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 808,370 to 1,365,710, a 69% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Otsego

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 Otsego are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 427% gain from 2015, when 3,120 homes used active solar heating.

Otsego County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Otsego County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Otsego’s overall fuel oil usage varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Otsego was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Otsego County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	28.1° F
2023 - 2024	33.5° F

Otsego County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Otsego residences heating with oil, picking which of the 18 heating oil companies that serve Otsego makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 70 “full-service” oil companies that serve Otsego. Full service companies such as Reinhardt Corp or Reinhardt Corp offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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 referred to as “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 when you're running low. Some of the 2 Otsego cash heating oil companies serving Otsego include Reese Marshall and Worcester Fuel Oil Inc Cash Oil Assoc.

Otsego Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Otsego: 18 companies .
Average Number of Otsego Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 61296

Otsego Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 families in Otsego heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Otsego temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Otsego houses rely on heating oil delivery each winter.

7% of Otsego County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Otsego County Households	Otsego County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

107 Otsego Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Otsego homeowners last winter, the Otsego community relies on its 107 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Otsego, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Otsego and the surrounding area.

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