Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Tioga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Tioga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Tioga households 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 (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 Tioga
Oil has become less frequently used in Tioga. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using fuel oil decreased from 1,901,118 to 1,103,323, a 42% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Tioga
Between 2012 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 237,738 to 377,922, a 59% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,044,389 to 4,725,574, a 17% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Tioga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Tioga. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 775,390 to 1,365,710, a 76% 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. Currently, 16,434 homes in Tioga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 658% gain from 2012, when 2,168 homes incorporated 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 number two heating oil consumption fluctuates from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 heating 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 can afford 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 number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households 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. Some of the 0 Tioga cash heating oil companies serving Tioga include and .
Tioga Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Tioga: 3 companies .
Average Number of Tioga Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 367774
Tioga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 families 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 depend on number two 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 Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Tioga houses the last heating season, the Tioga community looks to its 4 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Tioga and the surrounding region.
