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

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

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

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Delaware

Between 2023 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose 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 rose from 2,698,411 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Delaware

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Delaware. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,389,291 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Delaware

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 Delaware are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 3% gain from 2023, when 6,964 homes utilized 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 consumption fluctuates each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of oil to keep the house warm inside. 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, picking which of the 43 heating oil companies that serve Delaware is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic 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: Often called “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. Examples of 2 Delaware cash heating oil companies serving Delaware include Mauger & Company Inc and Brandywine Fuel.

Delaware Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Delaware: 43 companies .
Average Number of Delaware Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 15429

Delaware Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 houses 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 residences 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 Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Delaware homes the last heating season, the Delaware community relies on its 932 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 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.