Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Berks Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Berks, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Berks residents is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Berks County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Berks
Oil has become losing popularity in Berks. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of families using number two heating oil dipped from 776,616 to 663,450, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Berks
Between 2020 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 251,472 to 282,182, a 12% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 2,656,062 to 2,796,352, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Berks
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Berks. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,254,850 to 1,447,260, a 15% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Berks
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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, 7,204 homes in Berks are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Berks County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Berks County homeowners purchased a total of 26 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Berks’s overall number two heating oil use changes annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Berks was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Berks County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Berks County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Berks homes heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 41 heating oil companies that serve Berks can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 92 “full-service” oil companies that serve Berks. Full service companies such as Atlas Oil Company or Sauder Fuel offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic 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 clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Berks cash heating oil companies serving Berks include Eby Oil Inc and Tropical Oil LLC.
Berks Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Berks: 41 companies .
Average Number of Berks Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 16182
Berks Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Berks heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Berks temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Berks families rely on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Berks County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Berks County Households | Berks County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
444 Berks Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Berks homes the last heating season, the Berks community looks to its 444 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Berks, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Berks and the surrounding region.
