Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Beaver Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Beaver, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The 2nd 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 decreasing in demand in Beaver. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of homeowners using oil declined from 936,674 to 663,450, a 29% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Beaver
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 188,880 to 282,182, a 49% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,530,063 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 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,046,982 to 1,447,260, a 38% 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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Beaver are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 385% gain from 2012, when 1,484 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 oil use changes each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of 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 households heating with oil, selecting which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Beaver is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford 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 families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel 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 families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Beaver cash heating oil companies serving Beaver include Adams Petroleum Products Inc and Kehm Oil Co.
Beaver Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Beaver: 5 companies .
Average Number of Beaver Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 132690
Beaver Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Beaver heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Beaver temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Beaver homes rely on fuel 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Beaver families last winter, 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 number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Beaver and the surrounding vicinity.
