Homes have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Washington, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Washington 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%).

Washington 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 Washington

Number two heating oil has become less popular in Washington. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of families using fuel oil dipped from 1,496,843 to 1,103,323, a 26% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Washington

Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose 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 Washington

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Washington. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 867,925 to 1,365,710, a 57% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Washington

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 Washington are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes utilized active solar heating.

Washington County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Washington County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Washington’s overall fuel oil consumption changes each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Washington was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Washington County Average Winter Temperature

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

Washington County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Washington homeowners heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 26 heating oil companies that serve Washington makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 77 “full-service” oil companies that serve Washington. Full service companies such as Gf Heating Oil LLC or Wever Petroleum Inc offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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. Some of the 2 Washington cash heating oil companies serving Washington include Sweet's Fuel Service Inc and Richards Fuels Inc Richard Fuels.

Washington Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Washington: 26 companies .
Average Number of Washington Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 42436

Washington Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 households in Washington heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Washington residences depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.

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

Washington County Households	Washington County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

192 Washington Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Washington houses the last heating season, the Washington community looks to its 192 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Washington, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Washington and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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