Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Northumberland Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Northumberland, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Northumberland 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%).
Northumberland 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 Northumberland
Fuel oil has become less popular in Northumberland. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of households using fuel oil declined from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Northumberland
Between 2019 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 235,490 to 282,182, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Northumberland
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Northumberland. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Northumberland
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Now, 7,204 homes in Northumberland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 homes used active solar heating.
Northumberland County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Northumberland County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Northumberland’s overall number two heating oil consumption fluctuates from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Northumberland was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Northumberland County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Northumberland County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Northumberland families heating with heating oil, picking which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Northumberland can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Northumberland. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 0 Northumberland cash heating oil companies serving Northumberland include Inc and .
Northumberland Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Northumberland: 0 companies .
Average Number of Northumberland Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 663450
Northumberland Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Northumberland heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Northumberland temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Northumberland families depend on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Northumberland County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Northumberland County Households | Northumberland County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
0 Northumberland Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Northumberland homeowners last winter, the Northumberland community looks to its 0 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 Northumberland, 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 homes and businesses throughout Northumberland and the surrounding region.