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

Lancaster 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 Lancaster

Heating oil has become less popular in Lancaster. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of households using heating oil decreased from 742,118 to 663,450, a 11% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lancaster

Between 2022 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel stayed the same at 282,182, a 0% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,710,114 to 2,796,352, a 3% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Lancaster

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Lancaster. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,337,240 to 1,447,260, a 8% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lancaster

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. Today, 7,204 homes in Lancaster are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 36% gain from 2022, when 5,282 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Lancaster County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Lancaster County homeowners purchased a total of 24 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Lancaster’s overall oil consumption varies annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Lancaster was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Lancaster County Average Winter Temperature

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

Lancaster County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Lancaster families heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 30 heating oil companies that serve Lancaster plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 126 “full-service” oil companies that serve Lancaster. Full service companies such as Aero Energy or Suburban Propane offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating 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 customer 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 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 Lancaster cash heating oil companies serving Lancaster include Talley Petroleum Enterprises Inc and Peggy's Fuel Oil.

Lancaster Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Lancaster: 30 companies .
Average Number of Lancaster Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 22115

Lancaster Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

526 Lancaster Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Lancaster homes last winter, the Lancaster community looks to its 526 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Lancaster, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Lancaster and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Adams County, PA

Berks County, PA

Chester County, PA

Cumberland County, PA

Lebanon County, PA

Perry County, PA

Schuylkill County, PA

York County, PA