Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Montgomery, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Montgomery residents 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%).

Montgomery 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 Montgomery

Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Montgomery. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using fuel oil declined from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montgomery

Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 ramped up from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Montgomery

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

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Montgomery

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

Montgomery County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Montgomery County homeowners purchased a total of 35 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Montgomery’s overall fuel oil use changes from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Montgomery was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Montgomery County Average Winter Temperature

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

Montgomery County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Montgomery households heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 74 heating oil companies that serve Montgomery is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 638 “full-service” oil companies that serve Montgomery. Full service companies such as IT Landes or InterCounty Oil Services Inc offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Montgomery cash heating oil companies serving Montgomery include Blaze Oil Corporation Inc and Merit Fuel Inc.

Montgomery Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Montgomery: 74 companies .

Average Number of Montgomery Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 8966

Montgomery Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 families in Montgomery heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montgomery temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Montgomery households rely on heating oil delivery each winter.

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

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

1736 Montgomery Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Montgomery families the last heating season, the Montgomery community relies on its 1736 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Montgomery, 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 Montgomery and the surrounding region.

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