Homeowners have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Lackawanna, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Lackawanna residents is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).

Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna

Oil has become less popular in Lackawanna. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using oil dropped from 717,601 to 663,450, a 8% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lackawanna

Between 2023 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 278,621 to 282,182, a 1% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,698,411 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Lackawanna

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Lackawanna. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,389,291 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lackawanna

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. Today, 7,204 homes in Lackawanna are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 3% gain from 2023, when 6,964 homes used active solar heating.

Lackawanna County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Lackawanna County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Lackawanna’s overall number two heating oil use fluctuates annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Lackawanna was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Lackawanna County Average Winter Temperature

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

Lackawanna County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Lackawanna residences heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 14 heating oil companies that serve Lackawanna can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Lackawanna. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC 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 household 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 homeowners 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 Lackawanna cash heating oil companies serving Lackawanna include Buy the Gallon LLC and Santarelli Sons Oil Co Inc.

Lackawanna Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Lackawanna: 14 companies .
Average Number of Lackawanna Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 47389

Lackawanna Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 families in Lackawanna heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Lackawanna temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Lackawanna homes are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.

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

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

139 Lackawanna Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Lackawanna households the last heating season, the Lackawanna community depends on its 139 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 Lackawanna, 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 Lackawanna and the surrounding vicinity.

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