Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Jefferson Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Jefferson, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Jefferson families is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Jefferson 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 Jefferson
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Jefferson. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of families using number two heating oil dropped from 1,279,260 to 1,103,323, a 14% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Jefferson
Between 2022 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel declined from 400,969 to 377,922, a 6% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,542,443 to 4,725,574, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Jefferson
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Jefferson. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,190,880 to 1,365,710, a 15% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Jefferson
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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Jefferson are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 45% gain from 2022, when 11,314 homes used active solar heating.
Jefferson County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Jefferson County homeowners purchased a total of 349,865 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Jefferson’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, 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 Jefferson was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Jefferson County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Jefferson County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Jefferson families heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Jefferson plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Jefferson. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Jefferson cash heating oil companies serving Jefferson include Philly Fuels Inc Inc and Philly Fuels Inc.
Jefferson Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Jefferson: 2 companies .
Average Number of Jefferson Households Served per Heating Oil company : 551662
Jefferson Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Jefferson heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Jefferson temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Jefferson households depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Jefferson County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Jefferson County Households | Jefferson County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
3 Jefferson Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Jefferson households the last heating season, the Jefferson community depends on its 3 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Jefferson, 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 Jefferson and the surrounding area.
