Homeowners have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Suffolk, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Suffolk 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%).

Suffolk 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 Suffolk

Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Suffolk. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of households using fuel oil decreased from 1,293,770 to 1,103,323, a 15% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Suffolk

Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped from 388,311 to 377,922, a 3% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,489,009 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Suffolk

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Suffolk. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,118,015 to 1,365,710, a 22% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Suffolk

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. Now, 16,434 homes in Suffolk are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 86% gain from 2021, when 8,858 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Suffolk County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Suffolk County homeowners purchased a total of 117 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Suffolk’s overall oil consumption varies yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, 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 Suffolk was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Suffolk County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	28.1° F
2023 - 2024	33.5° F

Suffolk County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Suffolk households heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 247 heating oil companies that serve Suffolk is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 4960 “full-service” oil companies that serve Suffolk. Full service companies such as J W Piccozzi Inc Piccozzi's Fuel Oil Co or W C Esp Inc offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are budget-conscious. 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Suffolk cash heating oil companies serving Suffolk include East End Container Service Inc East End Fuel and LoCo Fuel Corp.

Suffolk Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Suffolk: 247 companies .
Average Number of Suffolk Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 4467

Suffolk Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 homes in Suffolk heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Suffolk temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Suffolk houses depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

7% of Suffolk County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Suffolk County Households	Suffolk County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

13558 Suffolk Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Suffolk households during this past winter, the Suffolk community looks to its 13558 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Suffolk, 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 Suffolk and the surrounding vicinity.

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