Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Mercer Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host 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 families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Mercer 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%).
Mercer 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 Mercer
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Mercer. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of homeowners using heating oil declined from 760,867 to 663,450, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Mercer
Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 267,454 to 282,182, a 6% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,677,533 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Mercer
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Mercer. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,287,322 to 1,447,260, a 12% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Mercer
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. Now, 7,204 homes in Mercer are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 48% gain from 2021, when 4,867 homes incorporated 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 number two heating oil use changes from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 families heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Mercer is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Mercer. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating 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 Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Mercer: 4 companies .
Average Number of Mercer Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 165863
Mercer Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Mercer heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Mercer temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Mercer houses depend 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 Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Mercer households last winter, 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 oil to residences and companies throughout Mercer and the surrounding vicinity.
