Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Lebanon Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Lebanon, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Lebanon homeowners 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%).
Lebanon 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 Lebanon
Fuel oil has become less popular in Lebanon. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of homeowners using oil declined from 776,616 to 663,450, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lebanon
Between 2020 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 251,472 to 282,182, a 12% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,656,062 to 2,796,352, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Lebanon
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Lebanon. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,254,850 to 1,447,260, a 15% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lebanon
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 Lebanon are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 homes had active solar heating.
Lebanon County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Lebanon County homeowners purchased a total of 12 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Lebanon’s overall oil use changes from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Lebanon was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Lebanon County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Lebanon County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Lebanon families heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve Lebanon makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 45 “full-service” oil companies that serve Lebanon. Full service companies such as Meyer Oil Company or Sauder Fuel offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Lebanon cash heating oil companies serving Lebanon include Eby Oil Inc and Werley Energy.
Lebanon Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Lebanon: 23 companies .
Average Number of Lebanon Households Served per Heating Oil company : 28846
Lebanon Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Lebanon heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Lebanon temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Lebanon residences rely on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Lebanon County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Lebanon County Households | Lebanon County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
153 Lebanon Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Lebanon homes last winter, the Lebanon community relies on its 153 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Lebanon, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Lebanon and the surrounding vicinity.