Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Huntingdon Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Huntingdon, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Huntingdon homeowners 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
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Huntingdon. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of families using fuel oil dipped from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Huntingdon
Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew 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 shot up from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Huntingdon
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Huntingdon. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Huntingdon
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 Huntingdon are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 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 heating oil usage varies annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel 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 families heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Huntingdon makes a big difference.
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 Huntingdon. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower 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 Huntingdon cash heating oil companies serving Huntingdon include C S Myers & Son Inc and Nittany Oil Company Inc.
Huntingdon Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Huntingdon: 6 companies .
Average Number of Huntingdon Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 110575
Huntingdon Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Huntingdon heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Huntingdon temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Huntingdon households 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Huntingdon houses during this past winter, the Huntingdon community looks to its 9 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 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 residences and companies throughout Huntingdon and the surrounding vicinity.
