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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: New Haven Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in New Haven, used by 537,918 or 37% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for New Haven households is Heating Oil, used by 491,612 homes (34%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (21%), Propane (6%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

New Haven County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
2026548,13393,823310,796480,25819,2527,15011,004
2025537,91888,504302,730491,61219,5506,48810,689
2024526,14682,630293,463509,59321,1035,85210,146
2023530,31592,469276,839496,09119,8854,23815,392
2022519,96986,596262,494520,42418,4872,98513,466
2021506,77280,721258,306532,05322,9922,96614,306
2020503,62273,848247,960533,73622,6481,90911,330
2019500,47166,974237,614535,42022,3048528,355
2018497,42260,526232,420549,03622,9541,5798,782
2017478,13655,608219,208562,24724,5101,02910,257
2016476,85255,631230,532554,28323,5809009,232
2015471,19551,915214,414561,99629,5309378,159
2014464,74849,540212,031576,94834,47855411,670
2013449,78746,397209,463585,75729,36140110,236
2012442,44343,849212,708615,73427,3513789,891
2011437,84043,778207,267625,16425,7076117,588
2010427,85039,533203,568650,62126,3732997,110

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in New Haven

Oil has become decreasing in demand in New Haven. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of households using heating oil dropped from 576,948 to 491,612, a 15% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in New Haven

Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 49,540 to 88,504, a 79% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 464,748 to 537,918, a 16% change.

Electricity use for home heating in New Haven

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in New Haven. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 212,031 to 302,730, a 43% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in New Haven

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all 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 (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 6,488 homes in New Haven are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1071% gain from 2014, when 554 homes utilized active solar heating.

New Haven County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, New Haven County homeowners purchased a total of 87 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

New Haven’s overall number two heating oil use changes each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in New Haven was 30.6°F, which was 4.6°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

New Haven County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202530.6° F
2023 - 202435.2° F

New Haven County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For New Haven households heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 275 heating oil companies that serve New Haven makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 1990 “full-service” oil companies that serve New Haven. Full service companies such as Aaa Oil Company or Spring Brook Ice & Fuel offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic 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 on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 New Haven cash heating oil companies serving New Haven include Boss Oil Co LLC Inc and Angel Fuel LLC.

New Haven Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving New Haven: 275 companies .

Average Number of New Haven Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 1788

New Haven Heating Oil Delivery Overview

491,612 households in New Haven heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when New Haven temperatures drop as low as 25.1° F each winter. 33.7% of New Haven residences are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

16.8% of New Haven County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

New Haven County HouseholdsNew Haven County Heating Oil Households
2.9M491,612

3399 New Haven Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 397,280,973 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to New Haven homes last winter, the New Haven community depends on its 3399 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 New Haven, two of the closest terminals are Buckeye in Wethersfield, CT and Sprague W in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout New Haven and the surrounding vicinity.