Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Cumberland, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Cumberland households 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%).

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

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2026	2,805,138	291,502	1,481,338	646,118	111,006	7,892	31,343
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 Cumberland

Oil has become decreasing in demand in Cumberland. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using number two heating oil dropped from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Cumberland

Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 209,719 to 282,182, a 35% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Cumberland

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Cumberland. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Cumberland

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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Cumberland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Cumberland County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Cumberland County homeowners purchased a total of 10 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Cumberland’s overall heating oil consumption varies each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Cumberland was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Cumberland County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	29.3° F
2023 - 2024	34.8° F

Cumberland County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Cumberland residences heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 15 heating oil companies that serve Cumberland makes a big difference.

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 31 “full-service” oil companies that serve Cumberland. Full service companies such as Suburban Propane or Smart Touch Energy offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 looking to save money. 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. Examples of 2 Cumberland cash heating oil companies serving Cumberland include Marstellar Oil & Concrete Inc Inc and JCM Energy Plus LLC.

Cumberland Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Cumberland: 15 companies .

Average Number of Cumberland Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 44230

Cumberland Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 residences in Cumberland heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Cumberland temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Cumberland houses rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.

6.1% of Cumberland County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Cumberland County Households	Cumberland County Heating Oil Households
10.7M	663,450

81 Cumberland Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Cumberland houses the last heating season, the Cumberland community depends on its 81 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Cumberland, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Cumberland and the surrounding region.

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