About Us

Company History

Aero Energy was established in September 1929 and has proudly served the greater Hanover, Pennsylvania area for over nine decades. The company’s expansion didn’t happen overnight, but grew through hard work and dedication. It all began in New Oxford, Pennsylvania, where a single service station under the name "Aero Oil" was launched.

The idea was conceived by founders David DeTar and H.C. Moul during a round of golf at Caledonia Golf Club. Shortly after opening, the U.S. stock market crashed, and while it was a challenging time for any new business, Aero Energy survived while many other companies in the region closed their doors.

The company continued to grow through World War II and the energy crisis of the 1970s, overcoming obstacles. The core value established by DeTar – “Depend on us for those who depend on you” – has driven the company forward and helped establish strong relationships with customers, many of whom are friends, neighbors, and even employees' families.

Today, Aero Energy runs from its headquarters in New Oxford, Pennsylvania, and has eight regional offices across Pennsylvania and Maryland, serving a total of 26 counties. What began as a one-truck operation has grown into a fleet of over 200 vehicles.

Over time, the company expanded its offerings to include heating oil, propane, diesel fuel, HVAC services, as well as plumbing and electrical services. As a company owned by its employees, the Aero Energy team takes immense pride in their work, bringing dedication and commitment to everything they do—qualities that any business owner would admire.

Why Choose Aero Energy?

Employee Owned. Customer Approved.
Why do Aero employees work so hard to please their customers? It’s because reliability and commitment to customers begins with our owners. You see, Aero’s employees are also its owners.

A large amount of Aero Energy stock is owned by our employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). There are well over 100 full-time employee-owners, across all nine Aero locations and all of our departments. Our employees take pride in their ownership of Aero and it shows in their work.

The remaining portion of Aero Energy is owned equally by two Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs): Choptank Electric Cooperative based in Denton, MD and Adams Electric Cooperative in Gettysburg, PA. RECs were formed by the federal government in the 1930s to bring electricity to rural America. RECs are true cooperative organizations owned by their customers.

If you are a Choptank or Adams member customer, then you are also an owner of Aero Energy! We also encourage Choptank Electric Members and Adams Electric Members to enroll in our cooperative benefit reimbursement programs. This unique blend of ownership serves as a foundation for rock-solid stability and fosters an unparalleled commitment to customers.