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

Luzerne 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 Luzerne

Heating oil has become losing popularity in Luzerne. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of families using heating oil dipped from 790,353 to 663,450, a 16% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Luzerne

Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 222,650 to 282,182, a 27% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,598,275 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Luzerne

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Luzerne. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,158,937 to 1,447,260, a 25% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Luzerne

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 Luzerne are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 224% gain from 2017, when 2,225 homes had active solar heating.

Luzerne County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Luzerne County homeowners purchased a total of 11 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Luzerne’s overall heating oil consumption changes annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Luzerne was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Luzerne County Average Winter Temperature

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

Luzerne County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Luzerne households heating with oil, selecting which of the 13 heating oil companies that serve Luzerne is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Luzerne. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Luzerne cash heating oil companies serving Luzerne include Buy the Gallon LLC and Union Petroleum Co.

Luzerne Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Luzerne: 13 companies .
Average Number of Luzerne Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 51035

Luzerne Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

107 Luzerne Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Luzerne houses the last heating season, the Luzerne community relies on its 107 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 Luzerne, 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 Luzerne and the surrounding vicinity.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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