Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Saratoga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Saratoga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Saratoga households 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 (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 Saratoga
Heating oil has become losing popularity in Saratoga. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using number two heating oil decreased from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Saratoga
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew 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 Saratoga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Saratoga. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Saratoga
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. Currently, 16,434 homes in Saratoga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes utilized 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 varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 families heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 45 heating oil companies that serve Saratoga makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want 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 heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Saratoga cash heating oil companies serving Saratoga include J H Buhrmaster Company Inc and MainCare Express.
Saratoga Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Saratoga: 45 companies .
Average Number of Saratoga Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 24518
Saratoga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Saratoga heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Saratoga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Saratoga households depend on number two heating 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Saratoga homeowners during this past winter, the Saratoga community relies on its 309 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Saratoga, 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 residences and companies throughout Saratoga and the surrounding area.
