Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Butler Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Butler, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Butler families is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Butler 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 Butler
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Butler. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of families using heating oil declined from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Butler
Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 209,719 to 282,182, a 35% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Butler
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Butler. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Butler
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 Butler are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes had active solar heating.
Butler County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Butler County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Butler’s overall heating oil consumption varies each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Butler was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Butler County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Butler County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Butler families heating with oil, choosing which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Butler makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Butler. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler 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 household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “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 number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Butler cash heating oil companies serving Butler include Adams Petroleum Products Inc and Purvis Brothers Inc.
Butler Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Butler: 7 companies .
Average Number of Butler Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 94779
Butler Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Butler heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Butler temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Butler houses depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Butler County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Butler County Households | Butler County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
46 Butler Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Butler homes during this past winter, the Butler community looks to its 46 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Butler, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Butler and the surrounding vicinity.
