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

Northampton 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 Northampton

Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Northampton. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil declined from 760,867 to 663,450, a 13% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Northampton

Between 2021 and today, the number of households 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 shot up from 2,677,533 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Northampton

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Northampton. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,287,322 to 1,447,260, a 12% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Northampton

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Northampton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 48% gain from 2021, when 4,867 homes had active solar heating.

Northampton County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Northampton County homeowners purchased a total of 20 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Northampton’s overall oil consumption changes annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Northampton was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Northampton County Average Winter Temperature

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

Northampton County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Northampton households heating with heating oil, picking which of the 32 heating oil companies that serve Northampton is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 56 “full-service” oil companies that serve Northampton. Full service companies such as Wisser Coal & Fuel Oil or DeSousa Oil & Service Corp offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower 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 Northampton cash heating oil companies serving Northampton include Aerni & Hitzel Fuel Inc and Lehigh Fuels Llc.

Northampton Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Northampton: 32 companies .
Average Number of Northampton Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 20733

Northampton Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

342 Northampton Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Northampton homeowners during this past winter, the Northampton community relies on its 342 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 Northampton, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Northampton and the surrounding region.

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