Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Tioga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred 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 other 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
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Tioga. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of families using number two heating oil declined from 1,496,843 to 1,103,323, a 26% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Tioga
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 294,973 to 377,922, a 28% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 4,339,349 to 4,725,574, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Tioga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Tioga. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 867,925 to 1,365,710, a 57% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Tioga
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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Tioga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes had 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 fuel oil use fluctuates each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 residences heating with heating oil, picking which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Tioga is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace 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 family 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 families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 0 Tioga cash heating oil companies serving Tioga include and .
Tioga Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: 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 homes 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 residences are reliant 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 Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Tioga households during this past winter, the Tioga community looks to its 4 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 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 area.
