Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Erie Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Erie, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Erie households 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%).
Erie 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 Erie
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Erie. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using heating oil decreased from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Erie
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 225,476 to 282,182, a 25% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Erie
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Erie. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Erie
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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Erie are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes had 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 oil use varies each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 homeowners heating with heating 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 value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Erie. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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 Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Erie: 2 companies .
Average Number of Erie Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 331725
Erie Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Erie heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Erie temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Erie houses rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% 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 Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Erie homes during this past winter, the Erie community looks to its 4 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 residences and companies throughout Erie and the surrounding vicinity.
