Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Somerset Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Somerset, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Somerset 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%).
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
Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Somerset. 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 Somerset
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 grew from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Somerset
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Somerset. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% 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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Somerset are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes incorporated 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 oil consumption changes each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 households heating with oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Somerset can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 looking to save money. 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. Some of the 2 Somerset cash heating oil companies serving Somerset include Davidsville Fuel Inc and Luther P Miller Inc.
Somerset Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Somerset: 2 companies .
Average Number of Somerset Households Served per Heating Oil company : 331725
Somerset Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Somerset heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Somerset temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Somerset homes are reliant on number two heating 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 Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Somerset houses last winter, the Somerset community relies on its 4 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery has two parts to it: 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 fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Somerset and the surrounding region.
