Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Huntingdon Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Huntingdon, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Huntingdon 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%).
Huntingdon 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 Huntingdon
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Huntingdon. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of homeowners using oil declined from 760,867 to 663,450, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Huntingdon
Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 267,454 to 282,182, a 6% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,677,533 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Huntingdon
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Huntingdon. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,287,322 to 1,447,260, a 12% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Huntingdon
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Today, 7,204 homes in Huntingdon are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 48% gain from 2021, when 4,867 homes utilized active solar heating.
Huntingdon County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Huntingdon County homeowners purchased a total of 214,236 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Huntingdon’s overall number two heating oil usage varies annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Huntingdon was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Huntingdon County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Huntingdon County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Huntingdon homeowners heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Huntingdon makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Huntingdon. 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 oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Huntingdon cash heating oil companies serving Huntingdon include C S Myers & Son Inc and Nittany Oil Company Inc.
Huntingdon Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Huntingdon: 6 companies .
Average Number of Huntingdon Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 110575
Huntingdon Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Huntingdon heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Huntingdon temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Huntingdon families depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Huntingdon County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Huntingdon County Households | Huntingdon County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
9 Huntingdon Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Huntingdon homes last winter, the Huntingdon community looks to its 9 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Huntingdon, 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 homes and businesses throughout Huntingdon and the surrounding area.
