Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Rutland Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Rutland, used by 99,824 or 35% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Rutland 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%).
Rutland 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 Rutland
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Rutland. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil dipped from 115,387 to 99,824, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Rutland
Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose 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 Rutland
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Rutland. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 11,250 to 36,366, a 223% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Rutland
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows 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 Rutland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 917% gain from 2014, when 179 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Rutland County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Rutland County homeowners purchased a total of 13 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Rutland’s overall number two heating oil usage changes each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Rutland was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Rutland County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Rutland County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Rutland residences heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Rutland plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Rutland. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Rutland cash heating oil companies serving Rutland include Midway Oil and Sam's Service Center & USave Fuels.
Rutland Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Rutland: 5 companies .
Average Number of Rutland Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 19965
Rutland Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 households in Rutland heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Rutland temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Rutland households depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Rutland County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Rutland County Households | Rutland County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
102 Rutland Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Rutland families during this past winter, the Rutland community depends on its 102 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Rutland, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Rutland and the surrounding vicinity.
