Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chenango Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Chenango, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Chenango families is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Chenango County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4,768,707 | 390,135 | 1,429,822 | 1,059,449 | 89,064 | 18,053 | 103,422 |
| 2025 | 4,725,574 | 377,922 | 1,365,710 | 1,103,323 | 92,054 | 16,434 | 100,232 |
| 2024 | 4,679,558 | 370,910 | 1,292,868 | 1,143,783 | 96,147 | 15,259 | 97,524 |
| 2023 | 4,581,041 | 402,335 | 1,263,700 | 1,212,850 | 100,015 | 11,208 | 104,369 |
| 2022 | 4,542,443 | 400,969 | 1,190,880 | 1,279,260 | 99,080 | 11,314 | 103,810 |
| 2021 | 4,489,009 | 388,311 | 1,118,015 | 1,293,770 | 108,202 | 8,858 | 98,952 |
| 2020 | 4,504,504 | 353,944 | 1,014,730 | 1,343,665 | 111,106 | 8,778 | 89,024 |
| 2019 | 4,519,999 | 319,576 | 911,445 | 1,393,560 | 114,011 | 8,697 | 79,096 |
| 2018 | 4,397,917 | 308,020 | 890,554 | 1,459,976 | 120,159 | 6,022 | 82,621 |
| 2017 | 4,339,349 | 294,973 | 867,925 | 1,496,843 | 122,088 | 5,988 | 77,386 |
| 2016 | 4,227,422 | 273,838 | 860,856 | 1,540,787 | 126,890 | 6,535 | 79,479 |
| 2015 | 4,202,413 | 265,224 | 808,370 | 1,649,860 | 141,016 | 3,120 | 78,999 |
| 2014 | 4,186,666 | 258,775 | 770,577 | 1,752,656 | 145,012 | 2,573 | 76,963 |
| 2013 | 4,074,510 | 259,367 | 764,400 | 1,802,442 | 148,422 | 2,525 | 81,841 |
| 2012 | 4,044,389 | 237,738 | 775,390 | 1,901,118 | 155,603 | 2,168 | 61,429 |
| 2011 | 4,014,222 | 222,634 | 707,016 | 1,979,067 | 143,287 | 2,728 | 63,609 |
| 2010 | 3,961,085 | 227,607 | 676,262 | 2,068,004 | 143,242 | 1,823 | 61,664 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Chenango
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Chenango. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of residents using number two heating oil fell from 1,901,118 to 1,103,323, a 42% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chenango
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 237,738 to 377,922, a 59% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,044,389 to 4,725,574, a 17% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Chenango
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Chenango. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 775,390 to 1,365,710, a 76% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Chenango
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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, 16,434 homes in Chenango are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 658% gain from 2012, when 2,168 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Chenango County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Chenango County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Chenango’s overall oil consumption fluctuates annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Chenango was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Chenango County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Chenango County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Chenango families heating with oil, selecting which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Chenango makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 11 “full-service” oil companies that serve Chenango. Full service companies such as Blueox Corporation Blueox Neighborhood Markets or Broedel Fuel Group LLC offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace 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 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 households who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Chenango cash heating oil companies serving Chenango include Reese Marshall Inc and Paul Oil Company Inc.
Chenango Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Chenango: 7 companies .
Average Number of Chenango Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 157618
Chenango Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Chenango heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chenango temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Chenango households rely on oil delivery each winter.
7% of Chenango County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Chenango County Households | Chenango County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
23 Chenango Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Chenango homeowners last winter, the Chenango community looks to its 23 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Chenango, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Chenango and the surrounding vicinity.
