Residences have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Erie, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Erie homeowners 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%).

Erie County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
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 Erie

Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Erie. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using heating oil dropped from 1,901,118 to 1,103,323, a 42% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Erie

Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 237,738 to 377,922, a 59% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 4,044,389 to 4,725,574, a 17% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Erie

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Erie. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 775,390 to 1,365,710, a 76% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Erie

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 16,434 homes in Erie are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 658% gain from 2012, when 2,168 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Erie County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Erie County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Erie’s overall fuel oil consumption changes each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Erie was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Erie County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	28.1° F
2023 - 2024	33.5° F

Erie County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Erie households heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Erie can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 40 “full-service” oil companies that serve Erie. Full service companies such as Pautler Oil Service Inc or Drum Oil Inc offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Erie cash heating oil companies serving Erie include Olear's Inc and Noco Energy Corp.

Erie Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Erie: 8 companies .
Average Number of Erie Households Served per Heating Oil company : 137915

Erie Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 households in Erie heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Erie temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Erie homes are reliant on oil delivery each winter.

7% of Erie County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Erie County Households	Erie County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

84 Erie Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Erie homeowners during this past winter, the Erie community looks to its 84 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Erie, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Erie and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Allegany County, NY

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Genesee County, NY

Livingston County, NY