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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bucks Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Bucks, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Bucks families is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).

Bucks County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
20252,796,352282,1821,447,260663,450112,2707,20431,146
20242,785,913276,5981,396,275685,083111,4166,15532,085
20232,698,411278,6211,389,291717,601111,5406,96444,558
20222,710,114282,6251,337,240742,118105,1475,28241,959
20212,677,533267,4541,287,322760,867109,8324,86746,436
20202,656,062251,4721,254,850776,616113,9004,55441,326
20192,634,591235,4901,222,377792,365117,9694,24136,216
20182,592,386225,4761,198,450806,761128,1102,19735,172
20172,598,275222,6501,158,937790,353127,1982,22535,586
20162,551,248209,7191,133,797805,822125,5831,63934,565
20152,549,385200,7541,103,995837,082141,8352,11738,034
20142,528,694198,2961,087,741858,758148,2561,76036,886
20132,516,052195,7991,086,074870,064148,5971,40833,941
20122,530,063188,8801,046,982936,674145,0891,48431,494
20112,516,883178,3871,019,764973,749137,6251,54528,259
20102,530,446177,562997,925993,832126,07459729,423

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Bucks

Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Bucks. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of households using oil decreased from 742,118 to 663,450, a 11% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bucks

Between 2022 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel stayed the same at 282,182, a 0% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,710,114 to 2,796,352, a 3% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Bucks

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Bucks. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,337,240 to 1,447,260, a 8% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Bucks

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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, 7,204 homes in Bucks are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 36% gain from 2022, when 5,282 homes used active solar heating.

Bucks County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Bucks County homeowners purchased a total of 40 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Bucks’s overall oil usage varies annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Bucks was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Bucks County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202529.3° F
2023 - 202434.8° F

Bucks County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Bucks residences heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 68 heating oil companies that serve Bucks is an important decision.

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 272 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bucks. Full service companies such as IT Landes or InterCounty Oil Services Inc offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Bucks cash heating oil companies serving Bucks include Ace Fueling Llc and Blaze Oil Corporation.

Bucks Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Bucks: 68 companies .
Average Number of Bucks Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 9757

Bucks Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 homes in Bucks heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bucks temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Bucks homes are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.

6.1% of Bucks County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Bucks County HouseholdsBucks County Heating Oil Households
10.7M663,450

1133 Bucks Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Bucks homes during this past winter, the Bucks community depends on its 1133 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Bucks, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Bucks and the surrounding area.