Families have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Rockland, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Rockland homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).

Rockland 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 Rockland

Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Rockland. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of residents using fuel oil dipped from 1,279,260 to 1,103,323, a 14% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Rockland

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 increased from 4,542,443 to 4,725,574, a 4% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Rockland

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Rockland. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,190,880 to 1,365,710, a 15% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Rockland

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 Rockland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 45% gain from 2022, when 11,314 homes utilized active solar heating.

Rockland County Heating Oil Trends

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

Short Term Trends

Rockland’s overall fuel oil usage changes annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Rockland was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Rockland County Average Winter Temperature

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

Rockland County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Rockland homes heating with oil, picking which of the 111 heating oil companies that serve Rockland is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 774 “full-service” oil companies that serve Rockland. Full service companies such as Plitnick Home Fuel & Service Co LLC or Superior Fuel Oil Inc offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace 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 family 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 customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Rockland cash heating oil companies serving Rockland include Emergency Services Fuel Corp Inc and Capital Fuel Transportation Corp.

Rockland Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Rockland: 111 companies .

Average Number of Rockland Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 9940

Rockland Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

Rockland County Households	Rockland County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

1245 Rockland Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Rockland residences the last heating season, the Rockland community relies on its 1245 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Rockland, 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 Rockland and the surrounding area.

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