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

Dauphin 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 Dauphin

Heating oil has become less frequently used in Dauphin. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of homeowners using oil declined from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Dauphin

Between 2015 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Dauphin

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Dauphin. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Dauphin

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. Now, 7,204 homes in Dauphin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes utilized active solar heating.

Dauphin County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Dauphin County homeowners purchased a total of 12 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Dauphin’s overall heating oil use changes from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Dauphin was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Dauphin County Average Winter Temperature

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

Dauphin County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Dauphin families heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 21 heating oil companies that serve Dauphin plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 37 “full-service” oil companies that serve Dauphin. Full service companies such as Suburban Propane or Dolan Oil Service offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 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 Dauphin cash heating oil companies serving Dauphin include Talley Petroleum Enterprises Inc and Peggy's Fuel Oil.

Dauphin Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Dauphin: 21 companies .
Average Number of Dauphin Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 31593

Dauphin Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 homes in Dauphin heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Dauphin temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Dauphin houses rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.

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

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

116 Dauphin Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Dauphin houses during this past winter, the Dauphin community looks to its 116 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Dauphin, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Dauphin and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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