Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: York Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in York, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for York 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%).
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
Number two heating oil has become less popular in York. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using heating oil dropped from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in York
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 York
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in York. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in York
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes had 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 oil use varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 households heating with oil, choosing which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve York plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 York cash heating oil companies serving York include Town & Country Fuel LLC and Edris Oil Service Inc.
York Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving York: 23 companies .
Average Number of York Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 28846
York Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in York heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when York temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of York residences depend 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 Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to York homeowners during this past winter, the York community looks to 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 fuel oil to residences and companies throughout York and the surrounding vicinity.
