Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Erie Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Erie, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Erie households is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The other 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
Oil has become less popular in Erie. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using oil decreased from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Erie
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 258,775 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Erie
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Erie. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Erie
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated 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 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 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 annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 homeowners heating with number two heating oil, selecting 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Erie cash heating oil companies serving Erie include Olear's Inc and Noco Energy Corp.
Erie Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Erie: 8 companies .
Average Number of Erie Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 137915
Erie Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Erie heat their homes with 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 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 Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Erie residences last winter, the Erie community relies on its 84 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery has two parts to it: 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 homes and businesses throughout Erie and the surrounding area.
