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Troy, VTPropane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Orleans Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Orleans, used by 99,824 or 35% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Orleans families 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
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Orleans. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of families using heating oil dipped from 108,532 to 99,824, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Orleans
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 40,280 to 57,954, a 44% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 45,256 to 55,373, a 22% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Orleans
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Orleans. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 12,610 to 36,366, a 188% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Orleans
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. Currently, 1,820 homes in Orleans are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 592% gain from 2015, when 263 homes used 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 usage varies annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of heating 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 homeowners heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Orleans can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Orleans. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the 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: Oil Companies Serving Orleans: 1 companies .
Average Number of Orleans Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 99824
Orleans Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 houses 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 houses are reliant 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 92,108,924 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Orleans households during this past winter, the Orleans community relies on its 1 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 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 area.
