Cheapest Erie County Heating Oil Price History
Updated on March 3, 2026 at 01:00 PM
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 03/03/2026 | $4.033 |
| 03/02/2026 | $3.862 |
| 03/01/2026 | $3.777 |
| 02/28/2026 | $3.777 |
| 02/27/2026 | $3.777 |
| 02/26/2026 | $3.784 |
| 02/25/2026 | $3.783 |
| 02/24/2026 | $3.777 |
| 02/23/2026 | $3.766 |
| 02/22/2026 | $3.748 |
| 02/21/2026 | $3.747 |
| 02/20/2026 | $3.747 |
| 02/19/2026 | $3.741 |
| 02/18/2026 | $3.748 |
| 02/17/2026 | $3.758 |
| 02/16/2026 | $3.773 |
| 02/15/2026 | $3.787 |
| 02/14/2026 | $3.787 |
| 02/13/2026 | $3.786 |
| 02/12/2026 | $3.790 |
| 02/11/2026 | $3.789 |
| 02/10/2026 | $3.784 |
| 02/09/2026 | $3.779 |
| 02/08/2026 | $3.770 |
| 02/07/2026 | $3.773 |
| 02/06/2026 | $3.778 |
| 02/05/2026 | $3.769 |
| 02/04/2026 | $3.759 |
| 02/03/2026 | $3.757 |
| 02/02/2026 | $3.760 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Erie Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Erie, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Erie households is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Erie 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 Erie
Fuel oil has become less popular in Erie. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using fuel oil declined from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Erie
Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 209,719 to 282,182, a 35% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Erie
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Erie. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Erie
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 Erie are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Erie County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Erie County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Erie’s overall heating oil usage changes annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Erie was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Erie County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Erie County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Erie households heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Erie plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Erie. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Erie cash heating oil companies serving Erie include Lowbucs Inc and Lake Erie Biofuels LLC.
Erie Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Erie: 2 companies .
Average Number of Erie Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 331725
Erie Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Erie heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Erie temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12% of Erie homes depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.15% of Erie County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Erie County Households | Erie County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
4 Erie Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,888.761 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Erie homeowners the last heating season, the Erie community depends on its 4 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Erie, 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 Erie and the surrounding region.
