Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Beaver Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Beaver, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Beaver homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining 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
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Beaver. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using heating oil fell from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Beaver
Between 2024 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 276,598 to 282,182, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel stayed the same at 2,796,352, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Beaver
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Beaver. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Beaver
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Now, 7,204 homes in Beaver are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes had 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 oil consumption changes annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more number two heating 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 residences heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Beaver is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Beaver. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Beaver cash heating oil companies serving Beaver include Adams Petroleum Products Inc and Kehm Oil Co.
Beaver Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Beaver: 5 companies .
Average Number of Beaver Houses 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 houses 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 Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Beaver families during this past winter, the Beaver community relies on its 22 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: 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 fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Beaver and the surrounding area.
