Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Mercer Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Mercer, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Mercer 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%).
Mercer 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 Mercer
Heating oil has become losing popularity in Mercer. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of homeowners using oil dipped from 936,674 to 663,450, a 29% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Mercer
Between 2012 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 188,880 to 282,182, a 49% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,530,063 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Mercer
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Mercer. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,046,982 to 1,447,260, a 38% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Mercer
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 Mercer are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 385% gain from 2012, when 1,484 homes utilized active solar heating.
Mercer County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Mercer County homeowners purchased a total of 348,456 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Mercer’s overall oil use fluctuates each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Mercer was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Mercer County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Mercer County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Mercer households heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Mercer can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Mercer. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers 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 you're running low. A few of the 2 Mercer cash heating oil companies serving Mercer include Heath Oil Inc and Klasen Mcquiston Energy Corporation.
Mercer Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Mercer: 4 companies .
Average Number of Mercer Households Served per Heating Oil company : 165863
Mercer Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Mercer heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Mercer temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Mercer residences rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Mercer County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Mercer County Households | Mercer County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
10 Mercer Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Mercer homes the last heating season, the Mercer community relies on its 10 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 Mercer, 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 Mercer and the surrounding area.
