Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Blair Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Blair, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Blair households 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%).
Blair 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 Blair
Fuel oil has become less popular in Blair. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of families using number two heating oil declined from 760,867 to 663,450, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Blair
Between 2021 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 267,454 to 282,182, a 6% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 2,677,533 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Blair
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Blair. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,287,322 to 1,447,260, a 12% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Blair
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Blair are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 48% gain from 2021, when 4,867 homes had active solar heating.
Blair County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Blair County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Blair’s overall number two heating oil consumption fluctuates yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Blair was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Blair County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Blair County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Blair households heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 9 heating oil companies that serve Blair makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Blair. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Blair cash heating oil companies serving Blair include Jacobs Oil Co Inc and Jj Powell Inc.
Blair Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Blair: 9 companies .
Average Number of Blair Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 73717
Blair Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Blair heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Blair temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Blair residences depend on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Blair County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Blair County Households | Blair County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
55 Blair Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Blair homes during this past winter, the Blair community looks to its 55 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Blair, 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 Blair and the surrounding area.
