Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Erie, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Erie homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).

Erie County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2026	4,768,707	390,135	1,429,822	1,059,449	89,064	18,053	103,422
2025	4,725,574	377,922	1,365,710	1,103,323	92,054	16,434	100,232
2024	4,679,558	370,910	1,292,868	1,143,783	96,147	15,259	97,524
2023	4,581,041	402,335	1,263,700	1,212,850	100,015	11,208	104,369
2022	4,542,443	400,969	1,190,880	1,279,260	99,080	11,314	103,810
2021	4,489,009	388,311	1,118,015	1,293,770	108,202	8,858	98,952
2020	4,504,504	353,944	1,014,730	1,343,665	111,106	8,778	89,024
2019	4,519,999	319,576	911,445	1,393,560	114,011	8,697	79,096
2018	4,397,917	308,020	890,554	1,459,976	120,159	6,022	82,621
2017	4,339,349	294,973	867,925	1,496,843	122,088	5,988	77,386
2016	4,227,422	273,838	860,856	1,540,787	126,890	6,535	79,479
2015	4,202,413	265,224	808,370	1,649,860	141,016	3,120	78,999
2014	4,186,666	258,775	770,577	1,752,656	145,012	2,573	76,963
2013	4,074,510	259,367	764,400	1,802,442	148,422	2,525	81,841
2012	4,044,389	237,738	775,390	1,901,118	155,603	2,168	61,429
2011	4,014,222	222,634	707,016	1,979,067	143,287	2,728	63,609
2010	3,961,085	227,607	676,262	2,068,004	143,242	1,823	61,664

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Erie

Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Erie. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of residents using oil decreased from 1,496,843 to 1,103,323, a 26% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Erie

Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 294,973 to 377,922, a 28% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 4,339,349 to 4,725,574, a 9% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Erie

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Erie. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 867,925 to 1,365,710, a 57% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Erie

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 16,434 homes in Erie are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes utilized active solar heating.

Erie County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Erie County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Erie’s overall number two heating oil consumption varies from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Erie was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Erie County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	28.1° F
2023 - 2024	33.5° F

Erie County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Erie homeowners heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Erie is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 40 “full-service” oil companies that serve Erie. Full service companies such as Pautler Oil Service Inc or Drum Oil Inc offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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. Some of the 2 Erie cash heating oil companies serving Erie include Olear's Inc Inc and Noco Energy Corp.

Erie Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Erie: 8 companies .

Average Number of Erie Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 137915

Erie Heating Oil Delivery Overview

1,103,323 houses in Erie heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Erie temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Erie houses depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.

7% of Erie County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Erie County Households	Erie County Heating Oil Households
15.6M	1.1M

84 Erie Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 664,748,714 gallons of heating oil delivered to Erie families the last heating season, the Erie community depends on its 84 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Erie, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Erie and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Allegany County, NY

Chautauqua County, NY

Genesee County, NY

Livingston County, NY