Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Beaver Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Beaver, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Beaver households 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 (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 Beaver
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Beaver. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil dipped from 870,064 to 663,450, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Beaver
Between 2013 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 195,799 to 282,182, a 44% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,516,052 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Beaver
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Beaver. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,086,074 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Beaver
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 412% gain from 2013, when 1,408 homes used 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 usage changes each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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, picking which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Beaver plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Beaver. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating 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 Beaver cash heating oil companies serving Beaver include Adams Petroleum Products Inc and Kehm Oil Co.
Beaver Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Beaver: 5 companies .
Average Number of Beaver Homes 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 rely 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 You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Beaver families the last heating season, the Beaver community looks to its 22 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 homes and businesses throughout Beaver and the surrounding region.
