Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: St Lawrence 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 St Lawrence, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for St Lawrence 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%).
St Lawrence 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 St Lawrence
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in St Lawrence. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of households using heating oil dipped from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in St Lawrence
Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 258,775 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in St Lawrence
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in St Lawrence. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in St Lawrence
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. Today, 16,434 homes in St Lawrence are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes had active solar heating.
St Lawrence County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, St Lawrence County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
St Lawrence’s overall heating oil usage changes yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in St Lawrence was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
St Lawrence County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
St Lawrence County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For St Lawrence homes heating with oil, choosing which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve St Lawrence is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 8 “full-service” oil companies that serve St Lawrence. Full service companies such as Collins Oil Inc or Harris Oil Inc offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two 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 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 customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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. Some of the 2 St Lawrence cash heating oil companies serving St Lawrence include Mx Petroleum Corp and Mj Leroux Oil Corp.
St Lawrence Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving St Lawrence: 8 companies .
Average Number of St Lawrence Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 137915
St Lawrence Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in St Lawrence heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when St Lawrence temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of St Lawrence houses depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of St Lawrence County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| St Lawrence County Households | St Lawrence County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
21 St Lawrence Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to St Lawrence residences the last heating season, the St Lawrence community depends on its 21 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 St Lawrence, 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 homes and businesses throughout St Lawrence and the surrounding vicinity.