Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Somerset Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Somerset, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Somerset 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%).
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 less popular in Somerset. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of families using heating oil decreased 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 households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 ramped up 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 popular in Somerset. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,389,291 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Somerset
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 Somerset are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 3% gain from 2023, when 6,964 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 usage changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more heating 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 heating oil, picking which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Somerset plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Somerset. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC 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 client 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 budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Somerset cash heating oil companies serving Somerset include Davidsville Fuel Inc and Luther P Miller Inc.
Somerset Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Somerset: 2 companies .
Average Number of Somerset Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 331725
Somerset Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Somerset heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Somerset temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Somerset families 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 Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Somerset houses last winter, the Somerset community depends on its 4 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 Somerset, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Somerset and the surrounding vicinity.
