Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Saratoga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Saratoga, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Saratoga homeowners 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%).
Saratoga 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 Saratoga
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Saratoga. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of homeowners using heating oil dropped from 1,802,442 to 1,103,323, a 39% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Saratoga
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 259,367 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 4,074,510 to 4,725,574, a 16% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Saratoga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Saratoga. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 764,400 to 1,365,710, a 79% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Saratoga
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. Today, 16,434 homes in Saratoga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 551% gain from 2013, when 2,525 homes had active solar heating.
Saratoga County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Saratoga County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Saratoga’s overall number two heating oil consumption changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Saratoga was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Saratoga County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Saratoga County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Saratoga homes heating with oil, selecting which of the 45 heating oil companies that serve Saratoga is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 120 “full-service” oil companies that serve Saratoga. Full service companies such as Wever Petroleum Inc or Pne Transportation Inc Egelston Oil Company offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: Often called “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 number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Saratoga cash heating oil companies serving Saratoga include J H Buhrmaster Company Inc Inc and MainCare Express.
Saratoga Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Saratoga: 45 companies .
Average Number of Saratoga Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 24518
Saratoga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Saratoga heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Saratoga temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Saratoga houses are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Saratoga County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Saratoga County Households | Saratoga County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
309 Saratoga Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Saratoga residences the last heating season, the Saratoga community looks to its 309 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Saratoga, 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 Saratoga and the surrounding region.
