Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Beaver Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Beaver, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Beaver homeowners 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%).
Beaver County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Beaver
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Beaver. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of families using heating oil dropped from 858,758 to 663,450, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Beaver
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 198,296 to 282,182, a 42% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,528,694 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Beaver
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Beaver. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,087,741 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Beaver
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Beaver are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 309% gain from 2014, when 1,760 homes utilized active solar heating.
Beaver County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Beaver County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Beaver’s overall fuel oil use changes annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Beaver was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Beaver County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Beaver County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Beaver households heating with oil, choosing which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Beaver is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Beaver. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace 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 household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Beaver cash heating oil companies serving Beaver include Adams Petroleum Products Inc and Kehm Oil Co.
Beaver Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Beaver: 5 companies .
Average Number of Beaver Households Served per Heating Oil company : 132690
Beaver Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Beaver heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Beaver temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Beaver households depend on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Beaver County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Beaver County Households | Beaver County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
22 Beaver Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Beaver residences during this past winter, the Beaver community relies on its 22 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 Beaver, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Beaver and the surrounding vicinity.
