Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Allegheny, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Allegheny homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).

Allegheny County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
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 Allegheny

Oil has become losing popularity in Allegheny. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of homeowners using fuel oil fell from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Allegheny

Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Allegheny

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Allegheny. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Allegheny

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 Allegheny are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Allegheny County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Allegheny County homeowners purchased a total of 4 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Allegheny’s overall oil use fluctuates annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Allegheny was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Allegheny County Average Winter Temperature

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

Allegheny County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Allegheny households heating with oil, choosing which of the 17 heating oil companies that serve Allegheny can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Allegheny. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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. Some of the 2 Allegheny cash heating oil companies serving Allegheny include Cr Augenstein Inc and Howard Gasoline & Oil.

Allegheny Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Allegheny: 17 companies .
Average Number of Allegheny Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 39026

Allegheny Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 families in Allegheny heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Allegheny temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Allegheny families are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

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

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

424 Allegheny Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Allegheny households last winter, the Allegheny community depends on its 424 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Allegheny, 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 Allegheny and the surrounding area.

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