Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Orange Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Orange, used by 99,824 or 35% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Orange households is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The other homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Orange County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number 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 Orange
Heating oil has become less popular in Orange. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of residents using fuel oil dropped from 115,387 to 99,824, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Orange
Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 38,116 to 57,954, a 52% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 43,091 to 55,373, a 29% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Orange
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Orange. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 11,250 to 36,366, a 223% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Orange
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 Orange are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 917% gain from 2014, when 179 homes utilized active solar heating.
Orange County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Orange County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Orange’s overall fuel oil use fluctuates each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Orange was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Orange County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Orange County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Orange families heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Orange makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 7 “full-service” oil companies that serve Orange. Full service companies such as Packard Fuels or Packard Fuels offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Orange cash heating oil companies serving Orange include Vermont Fuel Efficiency and Packard Fuels LLC.
Orange Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Orange: 4 companies .
Average Number of Orange Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 24956
Orange Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 residences in Orange heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Orange temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Orange houses are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Orange County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Orange County Households | Orange County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
28 Orange Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Orange residences the last heating season, the Orange community relies on its 28 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Orange, 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 Orange and the surrounding area.
