Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Chittenden, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Chittenden families is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The remaining homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).

Chittenden County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	55,373	57,954	36,366	99,824	33,030	1,820	4,366
2024	56,646	56,523	33,651	101,281	30,344	1,660	4,241
2023	48,131	54,853	27,940	102,091	38,497	1,670	4,784
2022	50,240	51,520	24,105	105,894	36,184	1,106	6,886
2021	50,677	51,992	22,510	105,005	33,125	1,349	4,533
2020	49,752	50,131	19,616	106,832	33,799	948	4,630
2019	48,826	48,270	16,723	108,658	34,473	547	4,727
2018	47,328	44,423	14,122	108,961	40,731	819	3,930
2017	47,036	43,339	14,035	107,395	38,840	612	3,997
2016	46,388	42,621	14,097	106,498	39,455	571	3,822
2015	45,256	40,280	12,610	108,532	42,271	263	4,298
2014	43,091	38,116	11,250	115,387	43,828	179	4,258
2013	42,192	38,339	11,779	111,011	44,411	257	3,630
2012	41,601	38,497	12,532	114,708	46,051	206	3,749
2011	39,163	39,551	10,855	122,786	41,261	98	2,834
2010	41,357	35,529	13,667	122,832	38,777	122	3,182

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Chittenden

Number two heating oil has become less popular in Chittenden. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of families using oil decreased from 107,395 to 99,824, a 7% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chittenden

Between 2017 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 43,339 to 57,954, a 34% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 47,036 to 55,373, a 18% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Chittenden

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Chittenden. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 14,035 to 36,366, a 159% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Chittenden

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Currently, 1,820 homes in Chittenden are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 197% gain from 2017, when 612 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Chittenden County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Chittenden County homeowners purchased a total of 9 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Chittenden’s overall fuel oil consumption changes yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Chittenden was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Chittenden County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	20.4° F
2023 - 2024	26.8° F

Chittenden County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Chittenden households heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve Chittenden plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Chittenden. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 budget-conscious. 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. Examples of 2 Chittenden cash heating oil companies serving Chittenden include Robinson's Inc and All Star Fuels LLC.

Chittenden Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Chittenden: 23 companies .
Average Number of Chittenden Households Served per Heating Oil company : 4340

Chittenden Heating Oil Delivery Overview

99,824 families in Chittenden heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chittenden temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Chittenden families are reliant on oil delivery each winter.

17.2% of Chittenden County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Chittenden County Households	Chittenden County Heating Oil Households
579,101	99,824

286 Chittenden Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 92,108,924 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Chittenden residences last winter, the Chittenden community relies on its 286 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Chittenden, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Chittenden and the surrounding vicinity.

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