Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Summit Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Summit, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Summit families is Electricity, used by 17,850,536 homes (28%). The rest of the homes are heated with Propane (5%), Wood (2%), Heating Oil (1%), and Other (1%).
Summit 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 Summit
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Summit. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of households using fuel oil fell from 1,132,851 to 774,909, a 32% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Summit 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 Summit
Between 2020 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel stayed the same from 3,083,444 to 3,081,795, a 0% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 37,003,382 to 40,284,169, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Summit
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Summit. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 13,869,204 to 17,850,536, a 29% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Summit
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Today, 10,860 homes in Summit are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 19% drop from 2020, when 13,449 homes had active solar heating.
Summit County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Summit County homeowners purchased a total of 336,934 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Summit’s overall number two heating oil use fluctuates annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Summit was 30°F, which was 0.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Summit County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 27.5° F |
Summit County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Summit households heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Summit is an important decision.
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 Summit. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel 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 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 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Summit cash heating oil companies serving Summit include Ravenna Oil Company Inc and Great Lakes Petroleum Co.
Summit Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Summit: 5 companies . Average Number of Summit Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 532
Summit Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 families in Summit heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Summit temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Summit residences are reliant on oil delivery each winter.
0.39% of Summit County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Summit County Households | Summit County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.9M | 7,439 |
12 Summit Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of heating oil delivered to Summit houses last winter, the Summit community depends on its 12 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Summit, 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 Summit and the surrounding area.
