Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Fayette Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Fayette, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Fayette 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%).
Fayette 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 Fayette
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Fayette. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of residents using oil fell from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Fayette
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Fayette
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Fayette. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% 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. Now, 7,204 homes in Fayette are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes had 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 oil use varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Fayette County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Fayette residences heating with oil, selecting 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 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 Fayette. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the 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 Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Fayette: 11 companies .
Average Number of Fayette Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 60314
Fayette Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses 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 houses depend on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Fayette County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Fayette County Households | Fayette County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
203 Fayette Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Fayette households last winter, the Fayette community relies on its 203 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Fayette, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Fayette and the surrounding vicinity.