Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Richmond Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Richmond, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Richmond homeowners 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%).
Richmond 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 Richmond
Oil has become less popular in Richmond. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using oil dropped from 1,212,850 to 1,103,323, a 9% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Richmond
Between 2023 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel declined from 402,335 to 377,922, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,581,041 to 4,725,574, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Richmond
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Richmond. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,263,700 to 1,365,710, a 8% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Richmond
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 Richmond are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 47% gain from 2023, when 11,208 homes used active solar heating.
Richmond County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Richmond County homeowners purchased a total of 4 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Richmond’s overall number two heating oil use changes yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Richmond was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Richmond County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Richmond County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Richmond homeowners heating with heating oil, picking which of the 68 heating oil companies that serve Richmond can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 28 “full-service” oil companies that serve Richmond. Full service companies such as Winston Oil Co Inc or The Energy Conservation Group LLC Skaggs Walsh offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Richmond cash heating oil companies serving Richmond include Ronco Oil Inc and Nyc Oil & Energy Corp.
Richmond Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Richmond: 68 companies .
Average Number of Richmond Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 16225
Richmond Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Richmond heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Richmond temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Richmond houses are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of Richmond County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Richmond County Households | Richmond County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
68 Richmond Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Richmond homeowners the last heating season, the Richmond community relies on its 68 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Richmond, 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 Richmond and the surrounding area.
