Cheapest Columbia County Heating Oil Price History
Updated on December 18, 2025
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 12/17/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/16/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/15/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/14/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/13/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/12/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/11/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/10/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/09/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/08/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/07/2025 | $2.999 |
| 12/06/2025 | $2.999 |
| 12/05/2025 | $2.999 |
| 12/04/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/03/2025 | $2.999 |
| 12/02/2025 | $2.849 |
| 12/01/2025 | $2.849 |
| 11/30/2025 | $2.849 |
| 11/29/2025 | $2.999 |
| 11/28/2025 | $2.999 |
| 11/27/2025 | $2.849 |
| 11/26/2025 | $2.849 |
| 11/25/2025 | $2.949 |
| 11/24/2025 | $2.949 |
| 11/23/2025 | $2.949 |
| 11/22/2025 | $2.999 |
| 11/21/2025 | $2.999 |
| 11/20/2025 | $2.999 |
| 11/19/2025 | $2.909 |
| 11/18/2025 | $2.909 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Columbia Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Columbia, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Columbia 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%).
Columbia County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34,874,317 | 2,838,374 | 16,489,698 | 7,027,777 | 1,537,838 | 38,300 | 509,973 |
| 2024 | 33,713,467 | 2,974,752 | 16,101,973 | 7,960,996 | 1,450,619 | 47,633 | 504,784 |
| 2023 | 32,555,397 | 3,095,841 | 15,715,074 | 8,885,520 | 1,365,275 | 55,043 | 498,627 |
| 2022 | 32,091,195 | 3,057,784 | 15,369,304 | 9,272,850 | 1,355,371 | 53,326 | 481,300 |
| 2021 | 31,895,666 | 2,915,345 | 14,958,236 | 9,432,650 | 1,407,109 | 44,183 | 463,731 |
| 2020 | 31,606,820 | 2,817,235 | 14,562,280 | 9,620,215 | 1,479,556 | 37,065 | 446,905 |
| 2019 | 31,301,416 | 2,726,491 | 14,195,208 | 9,754,979 | 1,547,415 | 31,328 | 436,087 |
| 2018 | 31,078,731 | 2,619,852 | 13,846,953 | 9,859,202 | 1,617,768 | 26,203 | 439,142 |
| 2017 | 30,931,676 | 2,540,423 | 13,564,648 | 10,033,309 | 1,678,830 | 22,191 | 438,648 |
| 2016 | 30,660,387 | 2,454,018 | 13,274,023 | 10,250,157 | 1,709,933 | 20,132 | 430,497 |
| 2015 | 30,415,903 | 2,360,877 | 12,971,247 | 10,600,440 | 1,733,119 | 19,192 | 414,084 |
| 2014 | 30,356,760 | 2,294,300 | 12,713,074 | 10,994,255 | 1,726,382 | 17,015 | 393,811 |
| 2013 | 30,372,204 | 2,244,427 | 12,445,957 | 11,382,810 | 1,680,034 | 15,202 | 370,032 |
| 2012 | 30,426,899 | 2,190,490 | 12,130,568 | 11,814,697 | 1,632,638 | 14,664 | 344,294 |
| 2011 | 30,449,683 | 2,151,843 | 11,795,862 | 12,228,626 | 1,569,666 | 12,253 | 323,710 |
| 2010 | 30,461,899 | 2,137,910 | 11,445,998 | 12,633,704 | 1,488,577 | 11,144 | 317,682 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Columbia
Oil has become less popular in Columbia. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of homeowners using fuel oil fell from 790,353 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Columbia
Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 222,650 to 282,182, a 27% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,598,275 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Columbia
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Columbia. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,158,937 to 1,447,260, a 25% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Columbia
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. Now, 7,204 homes in Columbia are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 224% gain from 2017, when 2,225 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 oil usage fluctuates annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Columbia was 28.9°F, which was 0.2°F warmer than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Columbia County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 32.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 30.8° 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 plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
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 Columbia. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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 Columbia cash heating oil companies serving Columbia include Jack Rich Inc and Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc.
Columbia Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Columbia: 8 companies .
Average Number of Columbia Households Served per Heating Oil company : 2931
Columbia Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Columbia heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Columbia temperatures drop as low as 29° F each winter. 12% of Columbia families depend on oil delivery each winter.
32.68% of Columbia County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Columbia County Households | Columbia County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 71,751 | 23,450 |
18 Columbia Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,888.761 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Columbia houses the last heating season, the Columbia community relies on its 18 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 region.
