Propane vs Natural Gas in Eau Claire: Heating Cost, Safety and Switching

Propane vs Natural Gas in Eau Claire: The Short Answer

Propane vs natural gas is mostly a price question, because both fuels heat a home the same basic way, by burning in a furnace or boiler. The federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Wisconsin residential propane at $1.889 a gallon, before taxes, for the week of October 12, 2026. Wisconsin homes paid an average of $10.74 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas in 2025. Put on the same footing, that is about $20.66 per million Btu of heat from propane and about $10.37 from natural gas, so propane cost roughly twice as much. If you are pricing a new furnace or a fuel switch, the HVAC contractors in Eau Claire on our directory can quote both options.

Treat these as snapshot numbers. EIA collects propane prices weekly from October through March, and the Wisconsin figure had moved up from $1.817 the week before. Check the current figures before you decide.

Propane vs Natural Gas Cost: Compare by the Unit of Heat

How do you compare a gallon of propane to natural gas?

Convert both to Btu, the standard unit of heat. EIA lists a gallon of propane at 91,452 Btu, a cubic foot of natural gas at 1,036 Btu, and a therm at 100,000 Btu. So a gallon of propane holds about 0.91 therm, and it takes about 11.3 gallons of propane to match the heat in 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas.

The math is two divisions:

• Propane: price per gallon divided by 0.091452 gives the price per million Btu.
• Natural gas: price per thousand cubic feet divided by 1.036 gives the price per million Btu.

Fuel	Wisconsin residential price (EIA)	Heat per unit (EIA)	Cost per million Btu (our calculation)
Propane	$1.889 per gallon, week of Oct. 12, 2026, before taxes	91,452 Btu per gallon	About $20.66
Natural gas	$10.74 per thousand cubic feet, 2025 average	1,036 Btu per cubic foot	About $10.37

Is propane cheaper than natural gas right now?

No, not in Wisconsin at these prices. Propane would have to drop to about $0.95 a gallon before taxes to match natural gas at about $10.37 per million Btu. Keep in mind the propane price excludes taxes, and DATCP notes that suppliers can add trip, after-hours, weekend, partial-fill, and inspection fees, so your delivered cost can be higher.

What does a year of heat cost with each fuel?

EIA’s 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey found that Wisconsin homes heating with propane burned an average of 701 gallons a year for space heating (728 gallons counting water heating and other uses), or about 64.1 million Btu. Wisconsin homes using natural gas used an average of 589 hundred cubic feet for space heating and 704 in total.

Our worked example, using the prices above: 701 gallons of propane at $1.889 comes to about $1,324 before taxes. The same 64.1 million Btu from natural gas at about $10.37 per million Btu comes to about $665. That assumes both furnaces are equally efficient. Your own last 12 months of delivery tickets or gas bills will give you a better number than any average.

Which way are heating costs heading this winter?

Down for both fuels, nationally. In its October 7, 2026 outlook, EIA said it expects homes heating with natural gas to spend 9% less than last winter on average and homes heating with propane to spend 3% less, driven by lower fuel prices. Those are national averages, not Eau Claire forecasts.

Propane vs Natural Gas in Eau Claire: Local Facts

• Most Wisconsin homes heat with gas. In EIA’s 2020 survey, 71% of Wisconsin homes used natural gas as their main heating fuel, 14% used electricity, and 10% used propane.
• Xcel Energy is the gas utility. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s natural gas territory map places Eau Claire in the Northern States Power Company - Wisconsin territory, which is part of Xcel Energy.
• Only one fuel’s price is regulated. DATCP says propane prices are not regulated under Wisconsin law, so the contract with your supplier sets the terms. Xcel’s Wisconsin gas service is subject to Public Service Commission rules and Xcel’s tariff.

Propane vs Natural Gas Contracts: Buying Propane in Wisconsin

Which propane price plan should I pick?

Pick the one that fits how predictable your usage is. DATCP describes four common options:

• Budget plans spread your projected cost over several months or a year. Payments may be adjusted mid-winter.
• Pre-pay plans are offered in summer and lock a price for the gallons you buy ahead. Fills beyond that amount may be charged at the market rate.
• Price-cap and fixed-price plans guarantee a per-gallon price for the season. A price cap can go down if the market drops, but DATCP says caps usually carry a higher per-gallon price than fixed plans, and some require an upfront fee.
• Market-rate contracts charge the supplier’s daily price. Ask whether that is the price on the day you order or the day of delivery.

Knowing your tank size and typical usage helps you avoid buying too much or too little. Get a signed, dated contract, and DATCP suggests keeping receipts for at least a year.

Should I rent or own my propane tank?

Renting is simpler; owning lets you shop around. DATCP says most suppliers won’t fill a tank owned by another supplier, and switching away from a rented tank may bring a pick-up fee. If you own the tank, each new supplier must do a safety check and will charge a fee before the first fill, and installation and maintenance must be done by a licensed technician.

Propane vs Natural Gas Safety Rules in Wisconsin

Do I need carbon monoxide detectors with either fuel?

Yes. Wisconsin law requires the owner of a home with a fuel-burning appliance, an attached garage, or a fireplace to install a working carbon monoxide detector in the basement and on each floor level, except the attic, garage, or storage areas. Detectors must carry a UL listing mark, and hard-wired units need a backup battery.

What should I do if I smell propane?

Leave right away and call from outside. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) says to get everyone out, avoid making sparks (do not flip light switches), then call your propane retailer, 911, or the fire department once you are away, and stay out until a qualified person says it is safe. PERC notes that propane is heavier than air and can settle near the ground, and that its added odor can fade when soil, water, or rust absorbs it. A propane gas detector, which is different from a carbon monoxide detector, can catch leaks you cannot smell.

What if I run out of propane?

Do not turn the tank back on yourself. PERC says a qualified professional must check the system for leaks when the gas is turned back on. If you cannot afford a delivery, Wisconsin’s Home Energy Plus program asks anyone without heat to call 1-866-432-8947; applications made between October 1 and May 15 are for a one-time payment toward heating costs.

Who has to be told before propane work is done?

Your propane supplier. Under Wis. Stat. 101.16, if anyone other than your supplier will replace, modify, repair, or service your propane system, you must notify the supplier at least 7 days ahead. After emergency work, tell them as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after the repair. The system has to be checked for leaks before it goes back into service.

Propane vs Natural Gas: Switching to Gas in Eau Claire

Can I switch from propane to natural gas?

Yes, if Xcel can bring a service line to your home. Xcel’s Wisconsin application asks homeowners to have their contractor submit it for them, and says permanent service installations typically take at least 4 weeks. Before the crew digs, you must clear the route and mark septic tanks, drain fields, sprinkler systems, wells, and other private lines; Xcel calls Diggers Hotline for third-party utilities.

A few terms worth knowing before you sign:

• Xcel owns everything from the main to the meter. You own and maintain all gas piping and appliances past the meter.
• The meter needs space at least 3 feet from electrical equipment, windows, and doors, and 6 feet from fresh air intakes.
• You agree to start using gas within 90 days after the line is installed.
• Xcel backfills the trench, but final compacting and seeding or sodding are on you.

What happens to my propane furnace and appliances?

Ask your HVAC contractor whether each appliance can be converted or needs replacing, and get that in the written quote. PERC says a qualified professional must cap or plug any gas line left open when an appliance is disconnected. If replacement makes sense, our guide to furnace replacement cost in Eau Claire covers pricing, and the Focus on Energy rebates guide explains current incentives.

Propane vs Natural Gas: When to Call a Pro

Call an HVAC contractor in Eau Claire for any fuel switch, appliance conversion, new gas piping past the meter, or a furnace that will not stay lit. PERC says installing, disconnecting, or moving a propane appliance calls for a qualified professional, and furnaces are often checked before each heating season. If your fuel bills are high with either fuel, sealing and insulating the house cuts how much you burn; the insulation contractors in Eau Claire can quote that work.