Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Schoharie Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Schoharie, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Schoharie residents 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%).
Schoharie 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 Schoharie
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Schoharie. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Schoharie
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 308,020 to 377,922, a 23% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Schoharie
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Schoharie. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Schoharie
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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Schoharie are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes had active solar heating.
Schoharie County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Schoharie County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Schoharie’s overall fuel oil use changes annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Schoharie was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Schoharie County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Schoharie County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Schoharie homeowners heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 22 heating oil companies that serve Schoharie plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 63 “full-service” oil companies that serve Schoharie. Full service companies such as Pne Transportation Inc Egelston Oil Company or Grantier Oil Company Inc offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 families who are looking to save money. 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. Some of the 2 Schoharie cash heating oil companies serving Schoharie include Countryside Management Corp Countryside Fuels Inc and A & M Middleburgh Oil LLC.
Schoharie Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Schoharie: 22 companies .
Average Number of Schoharie Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 50151
Schoharie Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 households in Schoharie heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Schoharie temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Schoharie homes are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Schoharie County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Schoharie County Households | Schoharie County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
145 Schoharie Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Schoharie houses the last heating season, the Schoharie community depends on its 145 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 Schoharie, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Schoharie and the surrounding vicinity.
