It costs less per unit to heat your home with oil than most other energy sources. 

SAMPLE HEATING ENERGY COMPARISONS:

Energy Product        BTUs                Estimated Cost                  Cost per
                              per unit                  per unit ($)              100,000 BTUs ($)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuel Oil                  140,000                    .88/gal.                            .629
LP Gas                    92,000                    .80/gal                            .870
Natural Gas            100,000                    .65/therm                        .650
Electricity                3,412                    .055/kw hour                  1.612

Efficiency:  There are many ways to compare heating system efficiency.  The most widely accepted measure is the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).  Modern, well-maintained oil fired furnaces achieve efficiencies in the range from 83%to 94%... favorably comparing to gas.  The average gas unit has an AFUE in the low 80s, while ratings on individual gas units vary from 78% to 95%.

Saving Dollars:  Looking to convert to natural gas from oil heat for cost savings?  In 1994, a study by the Consumer Energy Council of America reconfirmed the results of four studies performed in the past 12 years, concluding that it just doesn't make economic sense to switch from oil to gas for the sake of trying to capture the benefits of short-lived price differences.  Fuel price data from the U.S. Dept. of Energy show that heating oil and natural gas had virtually the same price per BTU from 1983 through 1991.

In fact, it costs an average of over $2,500 to switch from clean, comfortable oil heat to something else.  There is ample evidence to show that homeowners will never recoup their initial investment through long-term cost savings.  The best strategy is conservation through increasing the efficiency of your existing oil heating system and energy-saving practices at home.  Upgrading your system with a flame retention burner is the easiest and least expensive way to improve efficiency in a pre-1975 furnace that is in good shape.