Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Cambria Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Cambria, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Cambria residents 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%).
Cambria 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 Cambria
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Cambria. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of households using number two heating oil declined from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Cambria
Between 2019 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 235,490 to 282,182, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Cambria
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Cambria. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Cambria
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. Today, 7,204 homes in Cambria are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Cambria County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Cambria County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Cambria’s overall number two heating oil consumption varies annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Cambria was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Cambria County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Cambria County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Cambria households heating with heating oil, picking which of the 10 heating oil companies that serve Cambria makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Cambria. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC 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 client 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 clients 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 you're running low. Examples of 2 Cambria cash heating oil companies serving Cambria include Jacobs Oil Co Inc and Barber Oil Company.
Cambria Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Cambria: 10 companies .
Average Number of Cambria Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 66345
Cambria Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Cambria heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Cambria temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Cambria households rely on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Cambria County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Cambria County Households | Cambria County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
80 Cambria Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Cambria homeowners the last heating season, the Cambria community depends on its 80 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 Cambria, 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 Cambria and the surrounding area.
