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

Lehigh 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 Lehigh

Oil has become less popular in Lehigh. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of families using number two heating oil dropped from 742,118 to 663,450, a 11% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lehigh

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 Lehigh

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

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lehigh

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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Lehigh are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 36% gain from 2022, when 5,282 homes utilized active solar heating.

Lehigh County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Lehigh County homeowners purchased a total of 22 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Lehigh’s overall heating oil usage fluctuates from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces 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 Lehigh was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Lehigh County Average Winter Temperature

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

Lehigh County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Lehigh households heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 39 heating oil companies that serve Lehigh plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 118 “full-service” oil companies that serve Lehigh. Full service companies such as Wisser Coal & Fuel Oil or DeSousa Oil & Service Corp offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two 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 homeowner 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 households 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. Examples of 2 Lehigh cash heating oil companies serving Lehigh include Tirpak Energy and Liberty Oil & Propane.

Lehigh Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Lehigh: 39 companies .
Average Number of Lehigh Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 17012

Lehigh Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

576 Lehigh Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Lehigh houses the last heating season, the Lehigh community relies on its 576 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 Lehigh, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Lehigh and the surrounding region.

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