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

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

Indiana County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
20252,796,352282,1821,447,260663,450112,2707,20431,146
20242,785,913276,5981,396,275685,083111,4166,15532,085
20232,698,411278,6211,389,291717,601111,5406,96444,558
20222,710,114282,6251,337,240742,118105,1475,28241,959
20212,677,533267,4541,287,322760,867109,8324,86746,436
20202,656,062251,4721,254,850776,616113,9004,55441,326
20192,634,591235,4901,222,377792,365117,9694,24136,216
20182,592,386225,4761,198,450806,761128,1102,19735,172
20172,598,275222,6501,158,937790,353127,1982,22535,586
20162,551,248209,7191,133,797805,822125,5831,63934,565
20152,549,385200,7541,103,995837,082141,8352,11738,034
20142,528,694198,2961,087,741858,758148,2561,76036,886
20132,516,052195,7991,086,074870,064148,5971,40833,941
20122,530,063188,8801,046,982936,674145,0891,48431,494
20112,516,883178,3871,019,764973,749137,6251,54528,259
20102,530,446177,562997,925993,832126,07459729,423

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Indiana

Fuel oil has become less popular in Indiana. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of homeowners using heating oil fell from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Indiana

Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped 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 unchanged at 2,796,352, a 0% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Indiana

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Indiana. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Indiana

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Indiana are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes incorporated 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 consumption fluctuates annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more number two 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 SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202529.3° F
2023 - 202434.8° F

Indiana County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Indiana homeowners heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Indiana makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Indiana. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 homeowners who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Indiana cash heating oil companies serving Indiana include Barber Oil Company and Townsend Gas & Oil Inc.

Indiana Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Indiana: 8 companies .
Average Number of Indiana Households Served per Heating Oil company : 82931

Indiana Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 houses in Indiana heat their homes with fuel 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 HouseholdsIndiana County Heating Oil Households
10.7M663,450

58 Indiana Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Indiana households last winter, 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 oil to homes and businesses throughout Indiana and the surrounding area.