Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Montgomery, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Montgomery homeowners 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%).

Montgomery 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 Montgomery

Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Montgomery. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of homeowners using oil fell from 760,867 to 663,450, a 13% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montgomery

Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew 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 increased from 2,677,533 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Montgomery

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Montgomery. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,287,322 to 1,447,260, a 12% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Montgomery

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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Montgomery are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 48% gain from 2021, when 4,867 homes had active solar heating.

Montgomery County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Montgomery County homeowners purchased a total of 35 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Montgomery’s overall oil consumption varies from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Montgomery was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Montgomery County Average Winter Temperature

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

Montgomery County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Montgomery households heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 72 heating oil companies that serve Montgomery makes a big difference.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 638 “full-service” oil companies that serve Montgomery. Full service companies such as IT Landes or InterCounty Oil Services Inc offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 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 2 Montgomery cash heating oil companies serving Montgomery include Blaze Oil Corporation and Merit Fuel Inc.

Montgomery Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Montgomery: 72 companies .
Average Number of Montgomery Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 9215

Montgomery Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 families in Montgomery heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montgomery temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Montgomery houses are reliant on oil delivery each winter.

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

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

1702 Montgomery Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Montgomery houses the last heating season, the Montgomery community depends on its 1702 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 Montgomery, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Montgomery and the surrounding area.

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