Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Huntingdon Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Huntingdon, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Huntingdon families is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other 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 less popular in Huntingdon. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of households using heating oil declined from 717,601 to 663,450, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Huntingdon
Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 278,621 to 282,182, a 1% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,698,411 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Huntingdon
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Huntingdon. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,389,291 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Huntingdon
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 Huntingdon are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 3% gain from 2023, when 6,964 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 fuel oil usage varies from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 residences heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Huntingdon can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose 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 number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. 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 you're running low. Some of the 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: Oil Companies Serving Huntingdon: 6 companies .
Average Number of Huntingdon Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 110575
Huntingdon Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Huntingdon heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Huntingdon temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Huntingdon residences rely on number two 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 Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Huntingdon families the last heating season, the Huntingdon community looks to its 9 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 Huntingdon, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Huntingdon and the surrounding area.
