Residences have a host of fuels that can be used 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 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%).

Dauphin 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 Dauphin

Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Dauphin. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of households using number two heating oil fell 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 households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew 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 increased 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 more popular in Dauphin. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Dauphin

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 had 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 fuel oil usage changes yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional heating 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 homes heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 21 heating oil companies that serve Dauphin makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for 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 clients 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 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating 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 Dauphin cash heating oil companies serving Dauphin include Talley Petroleum Enterprises Inc and Peggy's Fuel Oil.

Dauphin Oil Company Fast Facts: 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 number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Dauphin temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Dauphin homes rely on number two heating 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 number two heating oil delivered to Dauphin homes last winter, the Dauphin community relies on its 116 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 Dauphin, 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 Dauphin and the surrounding region.

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