Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Yates Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Yates, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Yates 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%).
Yates 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 Yates
Heating oil has become less popular in Yates. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using oil dipped from 1,212,850 to 1,103,323, a 9% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Yates
Between 2023 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped from 402,335 to 377,922, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,581,041 to 4,725,574, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Yates
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Yates. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,263,700 to 1,365,710, a 8% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Yates
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. Today, 16,434 homes in Yates are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 47% gain from 2023, when 11,208 homes had active solar heating.
Yates County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Yates County homeowners purchased a total of 16,867 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Yates’s overall fuel oil use varies each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Yates was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Yates County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Yates County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Yates residences heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Yates plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Yates. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 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. Examples of 1 Yates cash heating oil companies serving Yates include Rushco Incorporated and .
Yates Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Yates: 1 companies .
Average Number of Yates Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 1103323
Yates Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Yates heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Yates temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Yates homes depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of Yates County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Yates County Households | Yates County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
1 Yates Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Yates homeowners last winter, the Yates community depends on its 1 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 Yates, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Yates and the surrounding region.
