January 8, 2004

How are North Dakota’s Homes Heated?

According to the 2000 Census, most North Dakota households, 43 percent, use natural gas to heat their homes.

This month’s “Population Bulletin,” a monthly publication by the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University, focuses on households throughout North Dakota by the type of fuel used to heat them. Nearly 29 percent of North Dakota households use electricity for heat, up from 26.2 percent in 1990. Households using bottled or tank liquid propane (LP) gas for heat comprise 15.7 percent of all North Dakota households, up from 14 percent in 1990. Households using fuel oil, kerosene oil, gasoline, alcohol, or other combustible liquids for heat comprise 9.2 percent of North Dakota households, down from 15.7 percent in 1990.

Home heating fuel varies widely throughout North Dakota by county. Urban centers have higher proportions of homes using piped natural gas or electricity. Rural areas tend more towards liquid propane, electricity, or fuel oil.

“The diverse distribution of heating fuel used in North Dakota homes means that rises in fuel prices by sector have very different economic impacts across the state. With our cold winters, small changes in fuel prices may have serious consequences for many households, especially those that are economially strapped,” said Richard Rathge, director of the State Data Center.

In 22 of the nation’s 50 states, a majority of households use natural gas for home heating. A majority of households in only five states heat their homes with electricity. Fuel oil is used by a majority of households in only four states, all in the far northeast.

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