Homeowners have a variety 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 households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Washington families is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).

Washington County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	54,345,995	3,852,351	15,152,300	12,150,215	1,528,832	49,551	965,942
2024	54,568,071	4,135,191	14,304,766	13,657,397	1,395,422	79,805	1,053,660
2023	54,602,419	4,386,014	13,489,574	15,145,446	1,265,719	107,463	1,131,873
2022	54,363,807	4,339,040	12,803,543	15,992,578	1,257,805	108,288	1,140,235
2021	54,061,475	4,114,307	12,000,235	16,632,522	1,324,256	95,189	1,095,930
2020	53,323,524	3,897,922	11,354,669	17,154,552	1,391,480	89,123	1,048,120
2019	52,462,179	3,661,802	10,730,044	17,860,046	1,474,191	79,739	1,002,000
2018	51,769,199	3,468,945	10,231,832	18,719,789	1,565,542	65,316	975,337
2017	51,058,554	3,343,718	9,951,967	19,572,893	1,642,923	54,401	975,306
2016	50,300,624	3,211,343	9,723,022	20,393,885	1,707,981	44,807	948,347
2015	49,678,528	3,073,822	9,410,192	21,345,530	1,750,824	35,228	904,279
2014	49,145,092	2,965,973	9,071,735	22,384,709	1,772,839	29,310	861,878
2013	48,519,646	2,875,722	8,724,939	23,380,223	1,770,703	26,140	819,051
2012	47,926,394	2,781,777	8,347,598	24,455,338	1,731,834	23,111	769,203
2011	47,264,555	2,714,802	8,011,428	25,566,431	1,655,190	20,508	741,884
2010	46,499,120	2,678,889	7,666,509	26,676,046	1,566,890	21,918	748,535

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Washington

Oil has become less popular in Washington. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of families using number two heating 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 homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew 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 increased 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 increased 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 flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Today, 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 use varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Washington was 26.9°F, which was 1°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Washington County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	27° F
2023 - 2024	26.4° F

Washington County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Washington families heating with oil, choosing which of the 24 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 pick one of the 73 “full-service” oil companies that serve Washington. Full service companies such as Gf Heating Oil LLC or Wever Petroleum Inc offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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 customers 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Washington cash heating oil companies serving Washington include Sweet's Fuel Service Inc and Richards Fuels Inc Richard Fuels.

Washington Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Washington: 24 companies .
Average Number of Washington Households Served per Heating Oil company : 4664

Washington Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 households in Washington heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington temperatures drop as low as 27° F each winter. 14% of Washington families depend on heating oil delivery each winter.

31.81% of Washington County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Washington County Households	Washington County Heating Oil Households
351,860	111,931

186 Washington Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 664,748,714.28 gallons of heating oil delivered to Washington households last winter, the Washington community depends on its 186 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Washington, 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 Washington and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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