Families have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Delaware, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Delaware residents 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%).

Delaware 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 Delaware

Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Delaware. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of families using fuel oil declined from 1,540,787 to 1,103,323, a 28% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Delaware

Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 273,838 to 377,922, a 38% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 4,227,422 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Delaware

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Delaware. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 860,856 to 1,365,710, a 59% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Delaware

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, 16,434 homes in Delaware are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 151% gain from 2016, when 6,535 homes had active solar heating.

Delaware County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Delaware County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Delaware’s overall heating oil usage changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Delaware was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Delaware County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	28.1° F
2023 - 2024	33.5° F

Delaware County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Delaware residences heating with oil, choosing which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Delaware is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 44 “full-service” oil companies that serve Delaware. Full service companies such as Reinhardt Corp or A And L Home Fuel LLC 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 fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 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. Some of the 2 Delaware cash heating oil companies serving Delaware include Sunrise Heating Fuels Inc Inc and Worcester Fuel Oil Inc Cash Oil Assoc.

Delaware Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Delaware: 11 companies .

Average Number of Delaware Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 100302

Delaware Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 households in Delaware heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Delaware temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Delaware residences depend on heating oil delivery each winter.

7% of Delaware County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Delaware County Households	Delaware County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

90 Delaware Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Delaware homes the last heating season, the Delaware community depends on its 90 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 Delaware, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Delaware and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties