Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Lehigh, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Lehigh residents 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%).

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 frequently used in Lehigh. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of households using number two heating oil dipped from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lehigh

Between 2019 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 235,490 to 282,182, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Lehigh

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Lehigh. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% 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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Lehigh are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 homes incorporated 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 oil use fluctuates yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 residences heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 39 heating oil companies that serve Lehigh can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic 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 budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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 Lehigh cash heating oil companies serving Lehigh include Tirpak Energy and Liberty Oil & Propane.

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

Lehigh Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 homes in Lehigh heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Lehigh temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Lehigh homes rely on 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Lehigh households the last heating season, the Lehigh community depends on its 576 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Lehigh and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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