Rhoads Energy

Rhoads Energy is a regional fuel and home-comfort company based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, serving residential, agricultural and commercial customers across Southcentral and Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery and Chester Counties. The business traces its origins to 1917, when Jerome H. Rhoads began selling kerosene from the back of a rail car in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. Over more than a century it evolved from a kerosene and coal-era fuel dealer into a full-service energy provider offering heating oil delivery, propane services, natural gas supply, commercial fueling, and heating and air-conditioning installation, repair and maintenance. The company describes itself as an employee-owned business and operates as the "Rhoads Energy Family of Companies," a group of locally based, family-operated entities. Its service portfolio includes automatic fuel delivery and budget-payment programs, propane equipment installation and service, natural gas rate programs positioned as savings versus utility supply, and HVAC services covering central air conditioning, mini-split systems, new system installation and service plans. It also promotes energy-assistance awareness, including Pennsylvania's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Rhoads Energy markets itself on fast response times, fair pricing, hometown values and community support, and it recruits delivery drivers, HVAC service technicians and installers as employee-owners. Leadership includes CEO Michael DeBerdine, III, continuing a multi-generational DeBerdine family connection to the business. The company remains privately held and is not listed on a public stock exchange.

Rhoads Energy's history begins in 1917, when Jerome H. Rhoads started the company and began selling kerosene from the back of a rail car in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. That modest fuel-trading origin became the foundation of a business that would remain in continuous operation for more than a century. In 1926, Mr. Rhoads purchased a building previously known as the Washington House and opened Hotel Rhoads. As soon as he took ownership, he provided a room to the Quarryville Legion boys for their meetings and allowed the Lions Club to bring the State Police to town by establishing a "permanent substation" inside the hotel, installing a telephone for their use. This early community-mindedness became a recurring theme in the company's self-description. A fire in 1932 badly damaged the "Rhoads Hotel," with the only item salvaged from the wreckage being a marble soda fountain; the total loss of the building was estimated at $17,000. Mr. Rhoads never questioned rebuilding, and in less than two months the remnants of the old hotel were torn down. In 1933 the restaurant reopened in a Spanish-style building as "The Spanish Tavern"; locals objected to the word "tavern," so the name was changed to the Rhoads Restaurant. The restaurant operated for decades and was closed in 1999, after which the property was sold. In 1957 the company was incorporated and officially named Jerome H. Rhoads, Inc. In 1998 it expanded into commercial fueling by acquiring Harrisburg & Lemoyne Pacific Pride locations. The restaurant closed in 1999 as the company focused on its energy operations. By the time of its centennial, Rhoads Energy had grown into a family of companies offering a variety of products and services as a full-service energy provider. The company marked "100 Years of Service in Central PA," describing itself as staying true to Mr. Rhoads' legacy, with employees and customers as the foundation of a locally owned and family-operated business. Its product and service mix evolved from kerosene and heating oil into propane, natural gas, commercial fueling, and heating and air-conditioning installation, repair and maintenance. In the modern era, Rhoads Energy describes itself as an employee-owned company and operates as the Rhoads Energy Family of Companies. It serves residential, agricultural and commercial customers across Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, offering budget-payment and auto-fill programs, propane and natural gas services, HVAC services, and commercial fueling. Leadership includes CEO Michael DeBerdine, III, and the DeBerdine family's multi-generational involvement is highlighted in the company's "Rhoads Legacy" narrative, which reflects on servant leadership, employee care and community-first values.

• 2017

  Rhoads Energy celebrated 100 years of service in Central Pennsylvania.

• 1999

  The restaurant closed and the property was sold.

• 1998

  Expanded into commercial fueling by acquiring Harrisburg & Lemoyne Pacific Pride locations.

• 1957

  The company was incorporated and officially named Jerome H. Rhoads, Inc.

• 1933

  The restaurant reopened in a Spanish-style building as The Spanish Tavern, later renamed Rhoads Restaurant.

• 1932

  A fire badly damaged the Rhoads Hotel; the only salvaged item was a marble soda fountain, with total loss estimated at $17,000.

• 1926

  Mr. Rhoads purchased a building previously known as the Washington House and opened Hotel Rhoads.

• 1917

  Jerome H. Rhoads started the company and began selling kerosene from the back of a rail car in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.

Locally owned, employee-owned, full-service energy and HVAC provider emphasizing fast response, fair pricing, hometown values and community support in Southcentral and Southeastern Pennsylvania.

• Heating oil delivery

  Residential and commercial heating oil delivery with budget options, auto-fill and oil system repairs, upgrades and maintenance.

• Propane services

  Propane equipment installation and service with auto-delivery options for residential, agricultural and commercial customers.

• Natural gas services

  Natural gas equipment installation and service with auto-delivery options; programs positioned as savings versus utility supply.

• HVAC services

  New system installation, expert repairs and service plans for central A/C and mini-split systems.

• Commercial fueling

  Commercial fueling services, expanded through the acquisition of Harrisburg & Lemoyne Pacific Pride locations.

1. 1Rhoads Energy Corporation - Fuel and HVAC Service in Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, and Chester Counties.rhoadsenergy.com
2. 2Rhoads Energy Company History - In Business Since 1917rhoadsenergy.com
3. 3Reliable Heating Fuel Delivery & Natural Gas Services - Rhoads Energyrhoadsenergy.com
4. 4About the Rhoads Energy Family of Companiesrhoadsenergy.com
5. 5Rhoads Energywikidata.org