Families have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Centre, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Centre 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%).

Centre 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 Centre

Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Centre. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of households using number two heating oil dropped from 717,601 to 663,450, a 8% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Centre

Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 278,621 to 282,182, a 1% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,698,411 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Centre

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Centre. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,389,291 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Centre

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 Centre are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 3% gain from 2023, when 6,964 homes had active solar heating.

Centre County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Centre County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Centre’s overall number two heating oil consumption fluctuates from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Centre was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Centre County Average Winter Temperature

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

Centre County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Centre residences heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Centre can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Centre. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two 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 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 clients who are on a budget. 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Centre cash heating oil companies serving Centre include C S Myers & Son Inc and Nittany Oil Company Inc.

Centre Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Centre: 8 companies .
Average Number of Centre Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 82931

Centre Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

70 Centre Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Centre residences during this past winter, the Centre community depends on its 70 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Centre, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Centre and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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