Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from 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 households 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 (No. 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

Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Butler. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dropped from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Butler

Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 225,476 to 282,182, a 25% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Butler

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Butler. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% 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 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. Today, 7,204 homes in Butler are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes utilized 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 fluctuates annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of 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 households heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 6 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 families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating 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 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: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Butler: 6 companies .
Average Number of Butler Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 110575

Butler Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 houses 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 homes are reliant on number two 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

40 Butler Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Butler homeowners the last heating season, the Butler community depends on its 40 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 fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Butler and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Washington County, PA

Westmoreland County, PA