Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Tioga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Tioga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Tioga residents 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%).
Tioga 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 Tioga
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Tioga. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of families using heating oil dropped from 1,802,442 to 1,103,323, a 39% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Tioga
Between 2013 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 259,367 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 4,074,510 to 4,725,574, a 16% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Tioga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Tioga. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 764,400 to 1,365,710, a 79% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Tioga
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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Tioga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 551% gain from 2013, when 2,525 homes used active solar heating.
Tioga County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Tioga County homeowners purchased a total of 912,252 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Tioga’s overall heating oil use varies yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Tioga was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Tioga County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Tioga County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Tioga families heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Tioga can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 4 “full-service” oil companies that serve Tioga. Full service companies such as Scott Smith & Son Inc or Scott Smith & Son Inc offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners 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 when you're running low. A few of the 0 Tioga cash heating oil companies serving Tioga include and .
Tioga Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Tioga: 3 companies .
Average Number of Tioga Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 367774
Tioga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 households in Tioga heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Tioga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Tioga households rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Tioga County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Tioga County Households | Tioga County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
4 Tioga Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Tioga residences last winter, the Tioga community looks to its 4 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 Tioga, 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 Tioga and the surrounding area.
