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Troy, VTPropane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Orleans Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety 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 households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Orleans households 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 (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
Oil has become losing popularity in Orleans. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of families using heating oil dropped from 102,091 to 99,824, a 2% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Orleans
Between 2023 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 54,853 to 57,954, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 48,131 to 55,373, a 15% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Orleans
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Orleans. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 27,940 to 36,366, a 30% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Orleans
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. Today, 1,820 homes in Orleans are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 9% gain from 2023, when 1,670 homes incorporated 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 use changes yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 residences heating with heating oil, picking which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Orleans is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 1 Orleans cash heating oil companies serving Orleans include Oil Supply Corp and .
Orleans Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Orleans: 1 companies .
Average Number of Orleans Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 99824
Orleans Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 households in Orleans heat their homes with number two heating 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 number two 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 fuel oil delivered to Orleans households last winter, the Orleans community depends on 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 number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Orleans and the surrounding area.
