Cheapest Columbia County Heating Oil Price History
Updated on March 3, 2026 at 01:00 PM
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 03/03/2026 | $3.449 |
| 03/02/2026 | $3.349 |
| 03/01/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/28/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/27/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/26/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/25/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/24/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/23/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/22/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/21/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/20/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/19/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/18/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/17/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/16/2026 | $3.349 |
| 02/15/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/14/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/13/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/12/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/11/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/10/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/09/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/08/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/07/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/06/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/05/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/04/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/03/2026 | $3.449 |
| 02/02/2026 | $3.349 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Columbia Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Columbia, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Columbia 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%).
Columbia 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 Columbia
Heating oil has become losing popularity in Columbia. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of households using fuel oil decreased from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Columbia
Between 2019 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up 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 rose from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Columbia
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Columbia. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Columbia
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. Now, 7,204 homes in Columbia are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 homes utilized active solar heating.
Columbia County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Columbia County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Columbia’s overall fuel oil consumption varies each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Columbia was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Columbia County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Columbia County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Columbia homeowners heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Columbia is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Columbia. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel 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 clients who are looking to save money. 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Columbia cash heating oil companies serving Columbia include Jack Rich Inc and Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc.
Columbia Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Columbia: 8 companies .
Average Number of Columbia Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 82931
Columbia Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Columbia heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Columbia temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12% of Columbia homes depend on oil delivery each winter.
6.15% of Columbia County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Columbia County Households | Columbia County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
18 Columbia Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,888.761 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Columbia houses last winter, the Columbia community depends on its 18 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Columbia, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Columbia and the surrounding area.
