Cheapest Lancaster County Heating Oil Price History
Updated on March 3, 2026 at 01:00 PM
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 03/03/2026 | $3.799 |
| 03/02/2026 | $3.590 |
| 03/01/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/28/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/27/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/26/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/25/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/24/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/23/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/22/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/21/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/20/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/19/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/18/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/17/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/16/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/15/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/14/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/13/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/12/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/11/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/10/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/09/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/08/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/07/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/06/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/05/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/04/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/03/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/02/2026 | $3.590 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Lancaster Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Lancaster, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Lancaster families 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%).
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
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Lancaster. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of households using number two heating oil dropped from 870,064 to 663,450, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lancaster
Between 2013 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 195,799 to 282,182, a 44% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,516,052 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Lancaster
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Lancaster. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,086,074 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lancaster
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 412% gain from 2013, when 1,408 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 number two heating oil use changes from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 homes heating with fuel oil, choosing 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 value 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel 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 Heating Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Lancaster: 30 companies .
Average Number of Lancaster Households Served per Heating Oil company : 22115
Lancaster Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Lancaster heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Lancaster temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12% of Lancaster residences are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.15% 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 Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,888.761 gallons of heating oil delivered to Lancaster homeowners the last heating season, the Lancaster community relies on 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 #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Lancaster and the surrounding region.
