Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Fulton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Fulton, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Fulton 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%).
Fulton 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 Fulton
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Fulton. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil dropped from 1,212,850 to 1,103,323, a 9% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Fulton
Between 2023 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel declined from 402,335 to 377,922, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,581,041 to 4,725,574, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Fulton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Fulton. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,263,700 to 1,365,710, a 8% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Fulton
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Currently, 16,434 homes in Fulton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 47% gain from 2023, when 11,208 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Fulton County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Fulton County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Fulton’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces 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 Fulton was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Fulton County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Fulton County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Fulton homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 14 heating oil companies that serve Fulton makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 14 “full-service” oil companies that serve Fulton. Full service companies such as Pne Transportation Inc Egelston Oil Company or James H Sprung Elocin Oil Co offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are looking to save money. 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 you're running low. Examples of 2 Fulton cash heating oil companies serving Fulton include Countryside Management Corp Countryside Fuels Inc and Neri Oil Company Inc.
Fulton Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Fulton: 14 companies .
Average Number of Fulton Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 78809
Fulton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 houses in Fulton heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Fulton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Fulton families depend on oil delivery each winter.
7% of Fulton County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Fulton County Households | Fulton County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
42 Fulton Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Fulton homeowners during this past winter, the Fulton community depends on its 42 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Fulton, 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 homes and businesses throughout Fulton and the surrounding vicinity.
