Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Rutland Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Rutland, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Rutland households is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The rest of the homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Rutland 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 Rutland
Oil has become less frequently used in Rutland. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of households using fuel oil fell from 105,005 to 99,824, a 5% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Rutland
Between 2021 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 51,992 to 57,954, a 11% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 50,677 to 55,373, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Rutland
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Rutland. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 22,510 to 36,366, a 62% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Rutland
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. Currently, 1,820 homes in Rutland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 35% gain from 2021, when 1,349 homes utilized 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 oil consumption varies from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional 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 heating oil, choosing which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Rutland 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 Rutland. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC 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 homeowner 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 customers 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 when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Rutland cash heating oil companies serving Rutland include Midway Oil and Sam's Service Center & USave Fuels.
Rutland Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Rutland: 5 companies .
Average Number of Rutland Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 19965
Rutland Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 residences 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 families are reliant on 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 Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Rutland houses last winter, the Rutland community relies 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 number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Rutland and the surrounding vicinity.
