Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Saratoga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Saratoga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Saratoga families 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%).
Saratoga 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 Saratoga
Fuel oil has become less popular in Saratoga. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of households using heating oil declined from 1,496,843 to 1,103,323, a 26% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Saratoga
Between 2017 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 294,973 to 377,922, a 28% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,339,349 to 4,725,574, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Saratoga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Saratoga. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 867,925 to 1,365,710, a 57% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Saratoga
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. Today, 16,434 homes in Saratoga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes had active solar heating.
Saratoga County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Saratoga County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Saratoga’s overall oil use changes each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Saratoga was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Saratoga County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Saratoga County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Saratoga households heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 45 heating oil companies that serve Saratoga makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 120 “full-service” oil companies that serve Saratoga. Full service companies such as Wever Petroleum Inc or Pne Transportation Inc Egelston Oil Company offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are looking to save money. 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 you're running low. Some of the 2 Saratoga cash heating oil companies serving Saratoga include J H Buhrmaster Company Inc and MainCare Express.
Saratoga Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Saratoga: 45 companies .
Average Number of Saratoga Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 24518
Saratoga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Saratoga heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Saratoga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Saratoga houses rely on oil delivery each winter.
7% of Saratoga County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Saratoga County Households | Saratoga County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
309 Saratoga Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Saratoga homes last winter, the Saratoga community looks to its 309 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 Saratoga, 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 homes and businesses throughout Saratoga and the surrounding area.
