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

Homeowners 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 residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Lebanon 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%).

Lebanon 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 Lebanon

Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Lebanon. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of families using fuel oil dipped 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 houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose 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 increased 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 more prevalent in Lebanon. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,254,850 to 1,447,260, a 15% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lebanon

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Now, 7,204 homes in Lebanon are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 homes utilized 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 consumption changes yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more 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 SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202529.3° F
2023 - 202434.8° F

Lebanon County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Lebanon families heating with 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 heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 clients 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. A few of the 2 Lebanon cash heating oil companies serving Lebanon include Eby Oil Inc and Werley Energy.

Lebanon Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Lebanon: 23 companies .
Average Number of Lebanon Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 28846

Lebanon Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

Lebanon County HouseholdsLebanon County Heating Oil Households
10.7M663,450

153 Lebanon Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Lebanon homeowners the last heating season, the Lebanon community depends on its 153 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Lebanon, 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 Lebanon and the surrounding area.