Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Lycoming Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Lycoming, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Lycoming 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%).
Lycoming 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 Lycoming
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Lycoming. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of residents using number two heating oil fell from 790,353 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lycoming
Between 2017 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose 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 shot up from 2,598,275 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Lycoming
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Lycoming. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,158,937 to 1,447,260, a 25% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lycoming
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. Now, 7,204 homes in Lycoming are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 224% gain from 2017, when 2,225 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 fuel oil use changes from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more fuel 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 families heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Lycoming is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value 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 families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 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 1 Lycoming cash heating oil companies serving Lycoming include RW Dittmar Plumbing Heating & Oil Company Inc and .
Lycoming Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Lycoming: 1 companies .
Average Number of Lycoming Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 663450
Lycoming Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Lycoming heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Lycoming temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Lycoming families depend 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 Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Lycoming homes last winter, the Lycoming community looks to its 1 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 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 residences and companies throughout Lycoming and the surrounding vicinity.
