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

Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Erie. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of families using oil dipped from 1,293,770 to 1,103,323, a 15% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Erie

Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped from 388,311 to 377,922, a 3% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 4,489,009 to 4,725,574, a 5% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Erie

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Erie. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,118,015 to 1,365,710, a 22% 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. Now, 16,434 homes in Erie are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 86% gain from 2021, when 8,858 homes utilized 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 number two heating oil use changes from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 fuel oil, picking which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Erie plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick 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 heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the 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 Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Erie: 8 companies .
Average Number of Erie Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 137915

Erie Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 residences in Erie heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Erie temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Erie families rely on number two heating 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 Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Erie homeowners the last heating season, the Erie community relies on its 84 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: 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 oil to residences and companies throughout Erie and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Allegany County, NY

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