More Homeowners Switch to Electric Heating

While natural gas remains the most common fuel to heat homes, a growing share of households are switching to electric forms of heating. According to a recent report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 42% of U.S. households reported that electricity was their main space heating fuel as of most recent data in 2024; in 2010, just 35% of households were using electric heating.

Meanwhile, the share of homeowners using natural gas has declined slightly, with 47% of homes using the fuel source in 2024 comoared to 49% in 2010.

There are several factors that could determine which fuel sources U.S. households prefer, with one being location and exposure to extreme temperatures. Data from EIA’s most recent Residential Energy Consumption Survey in 2020 show that homes exposed to the warmest temperatures throughout the year were more likely to use electricity as their main heating fuel. On the other hand, propane, heating oil, and wood space heating were more common in colder climates. 

Changes in policy and technology have also affected choices for heating equipment and heating fuels. In recent years, multiple state and local governments have banned natural gas in new residential construction or retrofit applications, citing indoor air quality concerns associated with fuel combustion and other factors. (Many of those policies have since been challenged in courts.) Additionally, technology improvements associated with electric air-source heat pumps have contributed to the growing share of homes primarily heating with electricity, especially in colder climates.