Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Heating oil is the most popular choice in Vermont, used by 69,867 or 37.90% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Vermont homeowners is natural gas, used by 47,288 homes (25.65%). The remaining homes are heated with propane (31,127), wood (19,448), electricity (15,940), and other fuels (4,814).
Vermont Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Vermont Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Heating Oil | 69,867 | 37.90% |
Natural Gas | 47,288 | 25.65% |
Propane | 31,127 | 16.89% |
Wood | 19,448 | 10.55% |
Electricity | 15,940 | 8.65% |
Other Fuels | 3,462 | 1.88% |
Solar | 693 | 0.38% |
No Fuel | 437 | 0.24% |
Coal | 222 | 0.12% |
Heating oil (37.90)
Natural gas (25.65)
Propane (16.89)
Wood (10.55)
Electricity (8.65)
Other fuels (1.88)
Solar (0.38)
No fuel (0.24)
Coal (0.12)
Heating oil has become less popular in Vermont. In the 5 years since 2017, the number of heating oil homes fell from 72,394 to 69,867, a 3.49% drop.
Vermont Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 84,242 |
2012 | 81,328 |
2013 | 78,030 |
2014 | 76,986 |
2015 | 75,105 |
2016 | 72,705 |
2017 | 72,394 |
2018 | 72,091 |
2019 | 70,629 |
2020 | 72,577 |
2021 | 70,963 |
2022 | 69,867 |
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 24,967 to 31,127.
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 44,077 to 47,288.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Vermont. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 10,190 to 15,940, a 56.43% increase.
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all space 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 in the basement.
Currently, 693 homes in Vermont are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 231.58% increase from 2017, when only 209 homes had installed active solar heating.
Short Term Trends
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 38.2° F |
Winter 2021 - 2022 | 24.2° F |
For Vermont homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 84 heating oil companies that serve Vermont is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 3 “full-service” oil companies that serve Vermont. Full service companies such as Packard Fuels or Packard Fuels offer automatic fuel delivery and furnace repair under a single roof.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel Companies” or “Cash Heating Oil Companies”, these companies are for the budget-conscious Vermont homeowner. In return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank and place an order when you run low on oil. Examples of cash heating oil companies that serve Vermont include BART Energy Llc and Hb Energy Solutions Inc.
Vermont Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Vermont: 84 companies
Average Number Of Vermont Homes Served Per Company: 831 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Vermont Oil Company: 1,096,534 gallons per year