Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Franklin Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Franklin, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Franklin residents 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%).
Franklin 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 Franklin
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Franklin. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of residents using fuel oil declined from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Franklin
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 276,598 to 282,182, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel remained stable at 2,796,352, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Franklin
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Franklin. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Franklin
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. Now, 7,204 homes in Franklin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes had active solar heating.
Franklin County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Franklin County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Franklin’s overall number two heating oil use changes from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Franklin was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Franklin County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Franklin County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Franklin families heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Franklin plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Franklin. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Franklin cash heating oil companies serving Franklin include JCM Energy Plus LLC and Penn Mar Oil Co Inc.
Franklin Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Franklin: 3 companies .
Average Number of Franklin Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 221150
Franklin Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Franklin heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Franklin temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Franklin residences depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Franklin County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Franklin County Households | Franklin County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
13 Franklin Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Franklin homeowners during this past winter, the Franklin community looks to its 13 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Franklin, 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 homes and businesses throughout Franklin and the surrounding region.
