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 households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Butler 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%).

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 decreasing in demand in Butler. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of households using fuel oil decreased from 790,353 to 663,450, a 16% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Butler

Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 222,650 to 282,182, a 27% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,598,275 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Butler

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Butler. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,158,937 to 1,447,260, a 25% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Butler

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, 7,204 homes in Butler are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 224% gain from 2017, when 2,225 homes used 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 number two heating oil usage varies yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating 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 residences heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Butler makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Butler cash heating oil companies serving Butler include Adams Petroleum Products Inc and Purvis Brothers Inc.

Butler Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Butler: 7 companies .
Average Number of Butler Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 94779

Butler Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 households in Butler heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Butler temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Butler families 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 Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Butler residences last winter, the Butler community relies on its 46 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Butler and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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