Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Somerset Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Somerset, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Somerset families is Electricity, used by 617,773 homes (17%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (5%), Propane (2%), Other (0.4%), and Solar (0.3%).
Somerset County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,660,049 | 70,826 | 639,424 | 176,394 | 10,565 | 13,035 | 14,439 |
| 2025 | 2,627,206 | 70,406 | 617,773 | 185,324 | 10,688 | 11,798 | 14,006 |
| 2024 | 2,623,428 | 66,233 | 592,186 | 198,050 | 10,223 | 10,926 | 13,381 |
| 2023 | 2,552,593 | 95,605 | 606,537 | 215,314 | 10,749 | 9,388 | 20,755 |
| 2022 | 2,560,329 | 89,511 | 568,299 | 231,690 | 10,054 | 7,925 | 17,145 |
| 2021 | 2,545,038 | 87,258 | 555,363 | 240,765 | 9,820 | 7,643 | 19,506 |
| 2020 | 2,509,666 | 79,338 | 501,738 | 241,254 | 10,094 | 6,464 | 16,414 |
| 2019 | 2,474,295 | 71,419 | 448,114 | 241,742 | 10,368 | 5,284 | 13,323 |
| 2018 | 2,435,183 | 67,930 | 437,888 | 258,889 | 12,069 | 4,626 | 14,313 |
| 2017 | 2,425,008 | 62,490 | 415,119 | 271,265 | 11,994 | 4,801 | 12,938 |
| 2016 | 2,389,530 | 59,916 | 423,650 | 271,179 | 13,466 | 3,212 | 14,924 |
| 2015 | 2,398,744 | 61,082 | 385,792 | 299,222 | 14,398 | 1,781 | 12,721 |
| 2014 | 2,393,423 | 62,396 | 384,329 | 309,236 | 14,471 | 1,748 | 13,957 |
| 2013 | 2,354,824 | 60,943 | 388,226 | 329,733 | 17,421 | 1,270 | 10,710 |
| 2012 | 2,368,222 | 60,990 | 377,997 | 356,378 | 13,974 | 1,002 | 10,889 |
| 2011 | 2,342,608 | 58,315 | 360,855 | 376,568 | 11,869 | 332 | 7,917 |
| 2010 | 2,344,455 | 63,241 | 343,112 | 392,540 | 11,886 | 325 | 8,439 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Somerset
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Somerset. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of residents using oil decreased from 240,765 to 185,324, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Somerset
Between 2021 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel decreased from 87,258 to 70,406, a 19% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,545,038 to 2,627,206, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Somerset
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Somerset. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 555,363 to 617,773, a 11% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Somerset
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. Today, 11,798 homes in Somerset are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 54% gain from 2021, when 7,643 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Somerset County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Somerset County homeowners purchased a total of 4 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Somerset’s overall fuel oil use varies each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Somerset was 33.5°F, which was 4.7°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Somerset County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 33.5° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 38.2° F |
Somerset County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Somerset residences heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Somerset makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Somerset. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace 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 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 clients who are looking to save money. 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 0 Somerset cash heating oil companies serving Somerset include Inc and .
Somerset Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Somerset: 0 companies .
Average Number of Somerset Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 185324
Somerset Heating Oil Delivery Overview
185,324 houses in Somerset heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Somerset temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Somerset residences depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
2.6% of Somerset County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Somerset County Households | Somerset County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 7.1M | 185,324 |
0 Somerset Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 169,797,916 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Somerset houses the last heating season, the Somerset community relies on its 0 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 Somerset, two of the closest terminals are Sunoco in Linden, NJ and Sunoco in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Somerset and the surrounding area.