Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: York Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in York, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for York 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%).
York County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 York
Heating oil has become losing popularity in York. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of households using fuel oil fell from 870,064 to 663,450, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in York
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 195,799 to 282,182, a 44% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,516,052 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in York
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in York. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,086,074 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in York
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 York are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 412% gain from 2013, when 1,408 homes used active solar heating.
York County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, York County homeowners purchased a total of 14 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
York’s overall fuel oil use fluctuates each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in York was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
York County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
York County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For York families heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve York 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 127 “full-service” oil companies that serve York. Full service companies such as Aero Energy or Smart Touch Energy offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower 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 York cash heating oil companies serving York include Town & Country Fuel LLC and Edris Oil Service Inc.
York Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving York: 23 companies .
Average Number of York Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 28846
York Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in York heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when York temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of York families are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of York County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| York County Households | York County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
228 York Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to York residences last winter, the York community relies on its 228 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 York, 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 York and the surrounding area.
