Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Elk Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Elk, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Elk 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%).
Elk 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 Elk
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Elk. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of families using fuel oil fell from 742,118 to 663,450, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Elk
Between 2022 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel remained unchanged at 282,182, a 0% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,710,114 to 2,796,352, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Elk
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Elk. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,337,240 to 1,447,260, a 8% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Elk
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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Elk are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 36% gain from 2022, when 5,282 homes used active solar heating.
Elk County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Elk County homeowners purchased a total of 180,681 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Elk’s overall heating oil consumption varies from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Elk was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Elk County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Elk County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Elk families heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Elk plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Elk. 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 oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 households who are looking to save money. 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. Some of the 1 Elk cash heating oil companies serving Elk include Friday Gas & Oil Inc and .
Elk Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Elk: 1 companies .
Average Number of Elk Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 663450
Elk Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Elk heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Elk temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Elk homes rely on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Elk County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Elk County Households | Elk County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
1 Elk Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Elk homes the last heating season, the Elk community looks to its 1 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 Elk, 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 Elk and the surrounding region.
