Cheapest Columbia County Heating Oil Price History
Updated on January 31, 2026 at 01:15 PM
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 01/31/2026 | $3.299 |
| 01/30/2026 | $3.299 |
| 01/29/2026 | $3.299 |
| 01/28/2026 | $3.249 |
| 01/27/2026 | $3.049 |
| 01/26/2026 | $3.049 |
| 01/25/2026 | $3.049 |
| 01/24/2026 | $3.049 |
| 01/23/2026 | $3.049 |
| 01/22/2026 | $2.949 |
| 01/21/2026 | $2.949 |
| 01/20/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/19/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/18/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/17/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/16/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/15/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/14/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/13/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/12/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/11/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/10/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/09/2026 | $2.849 |
| 01/08/2026 | $2.949 |
| 01/07/2026 | $2.949 |
| 01/06/2026 | $2.949 |
| 01/05/2026 | $2.949 |
| 01/04/2026 | $2.949 |
| 01/03/2026 | $2.949 |
| 01/02/2026 | $2.949 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Columbia Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Columbia, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Columbia households is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Columbia County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Columbia
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Columbia. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dropped from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Columbia
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Columbia
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Columbia. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Columbia
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Columbia are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Columbia County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Columbia County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Columbia’s overall heating oil consumption fluctuates each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Columbia was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Columbia County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Columbia County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Columbia homeowners heating with oil, choosing which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Columbia is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Columbia. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic 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 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 families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Columbia cash heating oil companies serving Columbia include Jack Rich Inc and Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc.
Columbia Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Columbia: 8 companies .
