Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Susquehanna Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Susquehanna, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Susquehanna families 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%).
Susquehanna 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 Susquehanna
Fuel oil has become less popular in Susquehanna. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of families using fuel oil fell from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Susquehanna
Between 2024 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 276,598 to 282,182, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel remained stable at 2,796,352, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Susquehanna
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Susquehanna. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Susquehanna
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 Susquehanna are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Susquehanna County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Susquehanna County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Susquehanna’s overall fuel oil consumption changes yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Susquehanna was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Susquehanna County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Susquehanna County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Susquehanna homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Susquehanna plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
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 Susquehanna. Full service companies such as or offer customers 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 number two 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Susquehanna cash heating oil companies serving Susquehanna include Hinds Online Discount and Kanuik Oil Company.
Susquehanna Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Susquehanna: 11 companies .
Average Number of Susquehanna Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 60314
Susquehanna Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Susquehanna heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Susquehanna temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Susquehanna households rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Susquehanna County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Susquehanna County Households | Susquehanna County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
66 Susquehanna Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Susquehanna homeowners last winter, the Susquehanna community looks to its 66 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 Susquehanna, 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 Susquehanna and the surrounding vicinity.