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

Indiana 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 Indiana

Oil has become less popular in Indiana. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using oil decreased from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Indiana

Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose 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 increased from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Indiana

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Indiana. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Indiana

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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Indiana are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes had active solar heating.

Indiana County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Indiana County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Indiana’s overall heating oil use varies from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Indiana was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Indiana County Average Winter Temperature

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

Indiana County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Indiana homes heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Indiana is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Indiana. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating 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: 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 exchange for lower 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. Some of the 2 Indiana cash heating oil companies serving Indiana include Barber Oil Company and Townsend Gas & Oil Inc.

Indiana Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Indiana: 8 companies .
Average Number of Indiana Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 82931

Indiana Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 residences in Indiana heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Indiana temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Indiana houses depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.

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

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

58 Indiana Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Indiana homes the last heating season, the Indiana community looks to its 58 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Indiana, 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 Indiana and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Huntingdon County, PA

Jefferson County, PA

Somerset County, PA

Westmoreland County, PA