Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Portage Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Portage, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Portage homeowners is Electricity, used by 17,850,536 homes (28%). The other homes are heated with Propane (5%), Wood (2%), Heating Oil (1%), and Other (1%).
Portage County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Date | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40284169 | 3081795 | 17850536 | 774909 | 1083121 | 10860 | 403836 |
| 2024 | 38930705 | 3174414 | 16488724 | 892843 | 979276 | 17062 | 417066 |
| 2023 | 37590944 | 3255196 | 15199404 | 1008409 | 880848 | 22803 | 427844 |
| 2022 | 37151905 | 3221760 | 14587823 | 1065149 | 866531 | 20673 | 438560 |
| 2021 | 37128867 | 3134944 | 14211401 | 1100859 | 903769 | 15657 | 445157 |
| 2020 | 37003382 | 3083444 | 13869204 | 1132851 | 942478 | 13449 | 450995 |
| 2019 | 36840178 | 3020916 | 13561816 | 1172096 | 978933 | 11917 | 457127 |
| 2018 | 36767219 | 2943873 | 13286860 | 1206655 | 1014383 | 11247 | 453770 |
| 2017 | 36733211 | 2903335 | 13055094 | 1235021 | 1047439 | 11038 | 444277 |
| 2016 | 36623358 | 2883233 | 12814934 | 1270071 | 1069881 | 11466 | 436330 |
| 2015 | 36586577 | 2871736 | 12538674 | 1324701 | 1085024 | 12269 | 422257 |
| 2014 | 36648643 | 2877547 | 12236610 | 1394959 | 1100515 | 11920 | 402497 |
| 2013 | 36700523 | 2911451 | 11934916 | 1470260 | 1109606 | 11282 | 384399 |
| 2012 | 36842930 | 2965805 | 11629674 | 1548843 | 1094960 | 10751 | 370550 |
| 2011 | 37027467 | 3013572 | 11342268 | 1639364 | 1055619 | 10419 | 359450 |
| 2010 | 37193755 | 3071292 | 11063784 | 1752123 | 1007864 | 11729 | 360649 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Portage
Oil has become less popular in Portage. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 1,324,701 to 774,909, a 42% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Portage County
| Date | Households |
|---|---|
| 2025-11-11 | 61948 |
| 2025-11-10 | 61953 |
| 2025-11-09 | 61959 |
| 2025-11-08 | 61965 |
| 2025-11-07 | 62013 |
| 2025-11-06 | 62017 |
| 2025-11-05 | 62028 |
| 2025-11-04 | 62038 |
| 2025-11-03 | 62061 |
| 2025-11-02 | 62071 |
| 2025-11-01 | 62078 |
| 2025-10-31 | 62077 |
| 2025-10-30 | 62078 |
| 2025-10-29 | 62079 |
| 2025-10-28 | 62085 |
| 2025-10-27 | 62099 |
| 2025-10-26 | 62119 |
| 2025-10-25 | 62135 |
| 2025-10-24 | 62147 |
| 2025-10-23 | 62155 |
| 2025-10-22 | 62205 |
| 2025-10-21 | 62213 |
| 2025-10-20 | 62220 |
| 2025-10-19 | 62228 |
| 2025-10-18 | 62242 |
| 2025-10-17 | 62249 |
| 2025-10-16 | 62253 |
| 2025-10-15 | 62318 |
| 2025-10-14 | 62386 |
| 2025-10-13 | 62390 |
| 2025-10-12 | 62397 |
| 2025-10-11 | 62411 |
| 2025-10-10 | 62419 |
| 2025-10-09 | 62427 |
| 2025-10-08 | 62434 |
| 2025-10-07 | 62484 |
| 2025-10-06 | 62492 |
| 2025-10-05 | 62508 |
| 2025-10-04 | 62520 |
| 2025-10-03 | 62539 |
| 2025-10-02 | 62554 |
| 2025-10-01 | 62560 |
| 2025-09-30 | 62561 |
| 2025-09-29 | 62562 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Portage
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,871,736 to 3,081,795, a 7% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 36,586,577 to 40,284,169, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Portage
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Portage. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 12,538,674 to 17,850,536, a 42% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Portage
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. Now, 10,860 homes in Portage are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 11% drop from 2015, when 12,269 homes had active solar heating.
Portage County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Portage County homeowners purchased a total of 654,867 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Portage’s overall fuel oil usage varies from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Portage was 30°F, which was 0.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Portage County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 26.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 27° F |
Portage County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Portage homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Portage plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Portage. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are looking to save money. 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 you're running low. Examples of 2 Portage cash heating oil companies serving Portage include Ravenna Oil Company Inc and Ullman Oil Inc.
Portage Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Portage: 3 companies . Average Number of Portage Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 1034
Portage Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 houses in Portage heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Portage temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Portage homes rely on oil delivery each winter.
1.77% of Portage County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Portage County Households | Portage County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 404,120 | 7,143 |
8 Portage Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Portage houses during this past winter, the Portage community relies on its 8 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Portage, two of the closest terminals are Citgo in Linden, NJ and Citgo in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Portage and the surrounding vicinity.
