Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Otsego Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Otsego, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Otsego homeowners 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 (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 Otsego
Oil has become less popular in Otsego. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of residents using oil dropped from 1,143,783 to 1,103,323, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Otsego
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 370,910 to 377,922, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 4,679,558 to 4,725,574, a 1% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Otsego
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Otsego. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,292,868 to 1,365,710, a 6% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Otsego
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 Otsego are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 8% gain from 2024, when 15,259 homes had 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 number two heating oil use varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces 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 homes heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 18 heating oil companies that serve Otsego 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 choose one of the 70 “full-service” oil companies that serve Otsego. Full service companies such as Reinhardt Corp or Reinhardt Corp offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 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: Fuel oil Companies Serving Otsego: 18 companies .
Average Number of Otsego Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 61296
Otsego Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Otsego heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Otsego temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Otsego houses depend 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 Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Otsego families during this past winter, the Otsego community relies on its 107 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 Otsego, 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 Otsego and the surrounding area.