Families have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Carbon, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Carbon households 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%).

Carbon 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 Carbon

Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Carbon. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of homeowners using oil dropped from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Carbon

Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up 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 shot up from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Carbon

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Carbon. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Carbon

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 Carbon are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes had active solar heating.

Carbon County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Carbon County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Carbon’s overall heating oil use fluctuates yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Carbon was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Carbon County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	29.3° F
2023 - 2024	34.8° F

Carbon County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Carbon residences heating with heating oil, picking which of the 17 heating oil companies that serve Carbon is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 25 “full-service” oil companies that serve Carbon. Full service companies such as Wisser Coal & Fuel Oil or DeSousa Oil & Service Corp offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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 known by the names “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 number two 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 Carbon cash heating oil companies serving Carbon include Tirpak Energy and Liberty Oil & Propane.

Carbon Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Carbon: 17 companies .
Average Number of Carbon Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 39026

Carbon Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 families in Carbon heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Carbon temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Carbon households are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

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

Carbon County Households	Carbon County Heating Oil Households
10.7M	663,450

92 Carbon Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Carbon residences the last heating season, the Carbon community depends on its 92 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Carbon, 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 Carbon and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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