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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Fayette Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Fayette, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Fayette families 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%).

Fayette County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
20252,796,352282,1821,447,260663,450112,2707,20431,146
20242,785,913276,5981,396,275685,083111,4166,15532,085
20232,698,411278,6211,389,291717,601111,5406,96444,558
20222,710,114282,6251,337,240742,118105,1475,28241,959
20212,677,533267,4541,287,322760,867109,8324,86746,436
20202,656,062251,4721,254,850776,616113,9004,55441,326
20192,634,591235,4901,222,377792,365117,9694,24136,216
20182,592,386225,4761,198,450806,761128,1102,19735,172
20172,598,275222,6501,158,937790,353127,1982,22535,586
20162,551,248209,7191,133,797805,822125,5831,63934,565
20152,549,385200,7541,103,995837,082141,8352,11738,034
20142,528,694198,2961,087,741858,758148,2561,76036,886
20132,516,052195,7991,086,074870,064148,5971,40833,941
20122,530,063188,8801,046,982936,674145,0891,48431,494
20112,516,883178,3871,019,764973,749137,6251,54528,259
20102,530,446177,562997,925993,832126,07459729,423

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Fayette

Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Fayette. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using oil declined from 858,758 to 663,450, a 23% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Fayette

Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 198,296 to 282,182, a 42% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,528,694 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Fayette

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Fayette. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,087,741 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Fayette

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Today, 7,204 homes in Fayette are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 309% gain from 2014, when 1,760 homes used active solar heating.

Fayette County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Fayette County homeowners purchased a total of 8 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Fayette’s overall fuel oil consumption fluctuates each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Fayette was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Fayette County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202529.3° F
2023 - 202434.8° F

Fayette County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Fayette homeowners heating with oil, picking which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Fayette 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 select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Fayette. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners 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 Fayette cash heating oil companies serving Fayette include Courtesy Oil Inc and Latshaw & Son Home Heating Oil LLC.

Fayette Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Fayette: 11 companies .
Average Number of Fayette Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 60314

Fayette Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 households in Fayette heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Fayette temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Fayette residences are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.

6.1% of Fayette County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Fayette County HouseholdsFayette County Heating Oil Households
10.7M663,450

203 Fayette Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Fayette families during this past winter, the Fayette community relies on its 203 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Fayette, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Fayette and the surrounding area.