Families 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 homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Montgomery 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%).

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

Oil has become less popular in Montgomery. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of residents using fuel oil declined from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montgomery

Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 209,719 to 282,182, a 35% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Montgomery

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Montgomery. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% 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 is circulated 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 Montgomery are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes incorporated 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 usage varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems 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 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 homes heating with oil, picking which of the 72 heating oil companies that serve Montgomery can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer 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 boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Montgomery cash heating oil companies serving Montgomery include Blaze Oil Corporation and Merit Fuel Inc.

Montgomery Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Montgomery: 72 companies .
Average Number of Montgomery Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 9215

Montgomery Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 homes in Montgomery heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montgomery temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Montgomery residences rely on fuel 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 Trust

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Montgomery homes during this past winter, the Montgomery community depends on its 1702 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 region.

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