Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Delaware Home Heating Fuel Comparison

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

Delaware 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 Delaware

Heating oil has become less popular in Delaware. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of families using number two heating oil dropped from 790,353 to 663,450, a 16% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Delaware

Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 222,650 to 282,182, a 27% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,598,275 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Delaware

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Delaware. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,158,937 to 1,447,260, a 25% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Delaware

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. Today, 7,204 homes in Delaware are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 224% gain from 2017, when 2,225 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Delaware County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Delaware County homeowners purchased a total of 34 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Delaware’s overall fuel oil usage changes each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Delaware was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Delaware County Average Winter Temperature

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

Delaware County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Delaware homes heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 43 heating oil companies that serve Delaware can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 319 “full-service” oil companies that serve Delaware. Full service companies such as Royal Petroleum Inc or Wister Coal & Fuel Oil Co offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the 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 Delaware cash heating oil companies serving Delaware include Mauger & Company Inc and Brandywine Fuel.

Delaware Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Delaware: 43 companies .
Average Number of Delaware Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 15429

Delaware Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

932 Delaware Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Delaware residences last winter, the Delaware community depends on its 932 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 Delaware, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Delaware and the surrounding region.