Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Wayne Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Wayne, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Wayne 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%).
Wayne 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 Wayne
Oil has become less popular in Wayne. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of homeowners using fuel oil declined from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Wayne
Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Wayne
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Wayne. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Wayne
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 Wayne are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes used active solar heating.
Wayne County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Wayne County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Wayne’s overall oil consumption changes from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Wayne was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Wayne County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Wayne County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Wayne homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Wayne is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Wayne. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 families 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Wayne cash heating oil companies serving Wayne include W V Tinklepaugh & Son Inc and B&S Oil.
Wayne Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Wayne: 11 companies .
Average Number of Wayne Households Served per Heating Oil company : 60314
Wayne Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Wayne heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Wayne temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Wayne families are reliant on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Wayne County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Wayne County Households | Wayne County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
82 Wayne Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Wayne households the last heating season, the Wayne community depends on its 82 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Wayne, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Wayne and the surrounding area.
