Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Lycoming Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Lycoming, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Lycoming households 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%).
Lycoming County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Lycoming
Heating oil has become less popular in Lycoming. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of households using oil decreased from 776,616 to 663,450, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lycoming
Between 2020 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 Lycoming
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Lycoming. 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 Lycoming
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 Lycoming are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 homes utilized active solar heating.
Lycoming County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Lycoming County homeowners purchased a total of 806,611 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Lycoming’s overall heating oil use fluctuates each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Lycoming was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Lycoming County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Lycoming County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Lycoming households heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Lycoming is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Lycoming. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 households who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 1 Lycoming cash heating oil companies serving Lycoming include RW Dittmar Plumbing Heating & Oil Company Inc and .
Lycoming Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Lycoming: 1 companies .
Average Number of Lycoming Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 663450
Lycoming Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Lycoming heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Lycoming temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Lycoming homes rely on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Lycoming County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Lycoming County Households | Lycoming County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
1 Lycoming Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Lycoming residences last winter, the Lycoming community looks to its 1 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 Lycoming, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Lycoming and the surrounding region.
