Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Northumberland, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Northumberland families 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%).

Northumberland 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 Northumberland

Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Northumberland. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of residents using heating oil dropped from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Northumberland

Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 225,476 to 282,182, a 25% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Northumberland

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Northumberland. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Northumberland

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 Northumberland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes used active solar heating.

Northumberland County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Northumberland County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Northumberland’s overall heating oil use changes annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Northumberland was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Northumberland County Average Winter Temperature

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

Northumberland County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Northumberland homeowners heating with oil, choosing which of the 9 heating oil companies that serve Northumberland can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Northumberland. Full service companies such as or offer customers 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 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 on a budget. 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. Examples of 2 Northumberland cash heating oil companies serving Northumberland include Lisi Oil Co and Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc.

Northumberland Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Northumberland: 9 companies .
Average Number of Northumberland Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 73717

Northumberland Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

105 Northumberland Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Northumberland families last winter, the Northumberland community looks to its 105 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Northumberland, 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 Northumberland and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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