Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Allegheny County, used by 2,698,438 or 51.75% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Allegheny County homeowners is electricity, used by 1,275,546 homes (24.46%). The remaining homes are heated with heating oil (786,449), propane (256,098), wood (122,435), and other fuels (139,486).
Allegheny County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Allegheny County Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 2.6M | 51.75% |
Electricity | 1.2M | 24.46% |
Heating Oil | 786,449 | 15.08% |
Propane | 256,098 | 4.91% |
Wood | 122,435 | 2.35% |
Coal | 51,531 | 0.99% |
Other Fuels | 50,506 | 0.97% |
No Fuel | 33,356 | 0.64% |
Solar | 4,093 | 0.08% |
Natural gas (51.75)
Electricity (24.46)
Heating oil (15.08)
Propane (4.91)
Wood (2.35)
Coal (0.99)
Other fuels (0.97)
No fuel (0.64)
Solar (0.08)
Heating oil has become less popular in Allegheny County. In the 9 years since 2013, the number of heating oil homes fell from 963,754 to 786,449, a 18.40% drop.
Allegheny County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 1.0M |
2012 | 1.0M |
2013 | 963,754 |
2014 | 930,735 |
2015 | 899,276 |
2016 | 864,952 |
2017 | 843,020 |
2018 | 828,104 |
2019 | 814,213 |
2020 | 811,086 |
2021 | 790,823 |
2022 | 786,449 |
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 185,329 to 256,098.
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,533,121 to 2,698,438.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Allegheny County. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,025,696 to 1,275,546, a 24.36% increase.
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all space heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank in the basement.
Currently, 4,093 homes in Allegheny County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 222.28% increase from 2013, when only 1,270 homes had installed active solar heating.
For Allegheny County homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 114 heating oil companies that serve Allegheny County is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Allegheny County. Full service companies such as undefined or undefined offer automatic fuel delivery and furnace repair under a single roof.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel Companies” or “Cash Heating Oil Companies”, these companies are for the budget-conscious Allegheny County homeowner. In return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank and place an order when you run low on oil. Examples of cash heating oil companies that serve Allegheny County include Weidner Heating & A/C and Caruso Heating and Air Conditioning.
Allegheny County Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Allegheny County: 114 companies
Average Number Of Allegheny County Homes Served Per Company: 54 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Allegheny County Oil Company: 35,151 gallons per year
Approximately 6,210 households in Allegheny County heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Allegheny County temperatures drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.
1% of Allegheny County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
Allegheny County Households | Allegheny County Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
541,492 | 6,210 |
4,341 Allegheny County Oil Companies Go the Distance
With 4 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Allegheny County homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Allegheny County community relies on its 4,341 oil companies to keep warm.
Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal. In the case of Allegheny County, two of the closest terminals are Etmt in Blawnox, PA and Etmt in Delmont, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses in Allegheny County.