Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Somerset Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Somerset, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Somerset households is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Somerset 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 Somerset
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Somerset. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of residents using number two heating oil dropped from 717,601 to 663,450, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Somerset
Between 2023 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 278,621 to 282,182, a 1% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,698,411 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Somerset
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Somerset. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,389,291 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Somerset
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. Today, 7,204 homes in Somerset are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 3% gain from 2023, when 6,964 homes used active solar heating.
Somerset County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Somerset County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Somerset’s overall heating oil use changes yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Somerset was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Somerset County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Somerset County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Somerset families heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Somerset can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Somerset. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Somerset cash heating oil companies serving Somerset include Davidsville Fuel Inc and Luther P Miller Inc.
Somerset Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Somerset: 2 companies .
Average Number of Somerset Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 331725
Somerset Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Somerset heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Somerset temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Somerset households rely on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Somerset County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Somerset County Households | Somerset County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
4 Somerset Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Somerset homeowners during this past winter, the Somerset community depends on its 4 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Somerset, 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 residences and companies throughout Somerset and the surrounding vicinity.
