Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Centre Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Centre, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Centre families 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%).
Centre 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 Centre
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Centre. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using oil dipped from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Centre
Between 2016 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 209,719 to 282,182, a 35% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Centre
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Centre. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Centre
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 Centre are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Centre County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Centre County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Centre’s overall oil use varies annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Centre was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Centre County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Centre County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Centre families heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Centre plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Centre. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “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 fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Centre cash heating oil companies serving Centre include C S Myers & Son Inc and Nittany Oil Company Inc.
Centre Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Centre: 8 companies .
Average Number of Centre Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 82931
Centre Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Centre heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Centre temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Centre houses depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Centre County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Centre County Households | Centre County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
70 Centre Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Centre homeowners last winter, the Centre community depends on its 70 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Centre, 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 Centre and the surrounding region.
