Residences have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Washington, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Washington 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%).

Washington 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 Washington

Oil has become less frequently used in Washington. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of families using oil dipped from 108,658 to 99,824, a 8% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Washington

Between 2019 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 48,270 to 57,954, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 48,826 to 55,373, a 13% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Washington

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Washington. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 16,723 to 36,366, a 117% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Washington

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Currently, 1,820 homes in Washington are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 233% gain from 2019, when 547 homes utilized active solar heating.

Washington County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Washington County homeowners purchased a total of 10 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Washington’s overall number two heating oil usage varies each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Washington was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Washington County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	20.4° F
2023 - 2024	26.8° F

Washington County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Washington households heating with heating oil, picking which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Washington 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 18 “full-service” oil companies that serve Washington. Full service companies such as Packard Fuels or Packard Fuels offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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 homeowners who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower 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. Some of the 2 Washington cash heating oil companies serving Washington include Vermont Fuel Efficiency and Patterson Fuels.

Washington Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Washington: 7 companies .
Average Number of Washington Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 14261

Washington Heating Oil Delivery Overview

99,824 families in Washington heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Washington houses are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.

17.2% of Washington County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Washington County Households	Washington County Heating Oil Households
579,101	99,824

77 Washington Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 92,108,924 gallons of oil delivered to Washington families the last heating season, the Washington community looks to its 77 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Washington, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Washington and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Addison County, VT

Caledonia County, VT

Chittenden County, VT