Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Rutland Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Rutland, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Rutland homeowners 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
Oil has become less popular in Rutland. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of homeowners using heating oil dipped from 111,011 to 99,824, a 10% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Rutland
Between 2013 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 38,339 to 57,954, a 51% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 42,192 to 55,373, a 31% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Rutland
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Rutland. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 11,779 to 36,366, a 209% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Rutland
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. As it stands today, 1,820 homes in Rutland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 608% gain from 2013, when 257 homes had 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 fuel oil use changes yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more fuel 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 number two heating oil, picking which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Rutland is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Rutland. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system 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 family 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 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 you're running low. A few of the 2 Rutland cash heating oil companies serving Rutland include Midway Oil and Sam's Service Center & USave Fuels.
Rutland Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Rutland: 5 companies .
Average Number of Rutland Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 19965
Rutland Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 families in Rutland heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Rutland temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Rutland houses rely 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 Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 92,108,924 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Rutland houses during this past winter, the Rutland community looks to its 102 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Rutland, 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 Rutland and the surrounding vicinity.
