Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Onondaga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Onondaga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Onondaga homeowners 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%).
Onondaga 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 Onondaga
Oil has become less frequently used in Onondaga. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of households using number two heating oil decreased from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Onondaga
Between 2014 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 258,775 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Onondaga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Onondaga. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Onondaga
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 16,434 homes in Onondaga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Onondaga County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Onondaga County homeowners purchased a total of 256,857 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Onondaga’s overall number two heating oil consumption varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers 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 Onondaga was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Onondaga County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Onondaga County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Onondaga families heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Onondaga can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Onondaga. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the 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 0 Onondaga cash heating oil companies serving Onondaga include Inc and .
Onondaga Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Onondaga: 0 companies .
Average Number of Onondaga Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 1103323
Onondaga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 houses in Onondaga heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Onondaga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Onondaga houses are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Onondaga County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Onondaga County Households | Onondaga County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
0 Onondaga Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Onondaga houses last winter, the Onondaga 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 Onondaga, 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 homes and businesses throughout Onondaga and the surrounding vicinity.
