Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common 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 rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).

Suffolk 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 Suffolk

Oil has become decreasing in demand in Suffolk. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using heating oil decreased from 1,212,850 to 1,103,323, a 9% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Suffolk

Between 2023 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped 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 rose from 4,581,041 to 4,725,574, a 3% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Suffolk

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Suffolk. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,263,700 to 1,365,710, a 8% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Suffolk

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 Suffolk are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 47% gain from 2023, when 11,208 homes utilized 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 fuel oil use changes from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 residences heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 246 heating oil companies that serve Suffolk makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 4887 “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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace 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 homeowner 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 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few 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 By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Suffolk: 246 companies .
Average Number of Suffolk Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 4485

Suffolk Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

13485 Suffolk Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Suffolk homes last winter, the Suffolk community depends on its 13485 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 Suffolk, 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 Suffolk and the surrounding region.

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