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Troy, VTPropane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Orleans Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Orleans, used by 99,824 or 35% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Orleans residents is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The other homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Orleans 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 Orleans
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Orleans. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of families using fuel oil dipped from 107,395 to 99,824, a 7% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Orleans
Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 shot up from 47,036 to 55,373, a 18% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Orleans
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Orleans. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 14,035 to 36,366, a 159% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Orleans
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 Orleans are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 197% gain from 2017, when 612 homes utilized active solar heating.
Orleans County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Orleans County homeowners purchased a total of 2,547 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Orleans’s overall fuel oil use varies annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Orleans was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Orleans County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Orleans County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Orleans households heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Orleans makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Orleans. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: Often called “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 heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 1 Orleans cash heating oil companies serving Orleans include Oil Supply Corp and .
Orleans Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Orleans: 1 companies .
Average Number of Orleans Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 99824
Orleans Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 homes in Orleans heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Orleans temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Orleans homes rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Orleans County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Orleans County Households | Orleans County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
1 Orleans Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 92,108,924 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Orleans houses during this past winter, the Orleans community looks to its 1 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Orleans, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Orleans and the surrounding vicinity.
