T
Troy, VTPropane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Orleans Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Orleans, used by 99,824 or 35% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Orleans homeowners is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The remaining homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Orleans 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 Orleans
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Orleans. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using heating oil fell from 108,961 to 99,824, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Orleans
Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 44,423 to 57,954, a 30% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 47,328 to 55,373, a 17% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Orleans
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Orleans. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 14,122 to 36,366, a 158% 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. As it stands today, 1,820 homes in Orleans are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 122% gain from 2018, when 819 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 oil usage varies annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 homes 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 value 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners 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 when you're running low. Examples of 1 Orleans cash heating oil companies serving Orleans include Oil Supply Corp and .
Orleans Oil Company By The Numbers: 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 households in Orleans heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Orleans temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Orleans families 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 Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 92,108,924 gallons of oil delivered to Orleans residences during this past winter, the Orleans community depends on its 1 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery has two parts to it: 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 oil to residences and companies throughout Orleans and the surrounding vicinity.
