Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Shelby Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Shelby, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Shelby families 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%).
Shelby 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 Shelby
Oil has become less frequently used in Shelby. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil fell from 1,008,409 to 774,909, a 23% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Shelby 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 Shelby
Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped from 3,255,196 to 3,081,795, a 5% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 37,590,944 to 40,284,169, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Shelby
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Shelby. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 15,199,404 to 17,850,536, a 17% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Shelby
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, 10,860 homes in Shelby are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 52% drop from 2023, when 22,803 homes utilized active solar heating.
Shelby County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Shelby homeowners heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Shelby 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 choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Shelby. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC 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 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 clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 1 Shelby cash heating oil companies serving Shelby include Schafer Oil Company and .
Shelby Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Shelby: 1 companies . Average Number of Shelby Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 41
Shelby Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 families in Shelby heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Shelby temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Shelby families depend on oil delivery each winter.
1.19% of Shelby County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Shelby County Households | Shelby County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15,172 | 180 |
1 Shelby Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Shelby homes last winter, the Shelby 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 Shelby, two of the closest terminals are Citgo in Linden, NJ and Citgo in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Shelby and the surrounding region.
