Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Columbia Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice 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 households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Columbia residents 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 | 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 less frequently used in Columbia. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of households using heating oil fell from 776,616 to 663,450, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Columbia
Between 2020 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 251,472 to 282,182, a 12% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,656,062 to 2,796,352, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Columbia
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Columbia. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,254,850 to 1,447,260, a 15% 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 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 Columbia are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 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 number two heating oil consumption fluctuates from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional heating 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 oil, picking which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Columbia makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Columbia cash heating oil companies serving Columbia include Jack Rich Inc and Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc.
Columbia Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Columbia: 8 companies .
Average Number of Columbia Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 82931
Columbia Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Columbia heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Columbia temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Columbia homes are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% 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 Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Columbia families the last heating season, the Columbia community looks to 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 oil to residences and companies throughout Columbia and the surrounding vicinity.
