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

Sullivan 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 Sullivan

Heating oil has become less popular in Sullivan. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using heating oil dropped from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Sullivan

Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose 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 shot up from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Sullivan

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Sullivan. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Sullivan

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Currently, 16,434 homes in Sullivan are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes had active solar heating.

Sullivan County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Sullivan County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Sullivan’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Sullivan was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Sullivan County Average Winter Temperature

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

Sullivan County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Sullivan homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 29 heating oil companies that serve Sullivan is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 190 “full-service” oil companies that serve Sullivan. Full service companies such as Orange Energy Inc or JusSar Fuel Inc offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Sullivan cash heating oil companies serving Sullivan include Big O Inc and Penguin Energy Corp.

Sullivan Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Sullivan: 29 companies .
Average Number of Sullivan Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 38046

Sullivan Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

Sullivan County Households	Sullivan County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

525 Sullivan Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Sullivan residences last winter, the Sullivan community looks to its 525 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Sullivan, 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 Sullivan and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties