Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Jefferson Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Jefferson, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Jefferson residents 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%).
Jefferson County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Jefferson
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Jefferson. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of residents using fuel oil declined from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Jefferson
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 225,476 to 282,182, a 25% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Jefferson
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Jefferson. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Jefferson
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Now, 7,204 homes in Jefferson are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes utilized active solar heating.
Jefferson County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Jefferson County homeowners purchased a total of 143,254 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Jefferson’s overall heating oil usage changes from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Jefferson was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Jefferson County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Jefferson County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Jefferson homes heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Jefferson makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Jefferson. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 households 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. A few of the 1 Jefferson cash heating oil companies serving Jefferson include Campbell & Burns Inc and .
Jefferson Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Jefferson: 1 companies .
Average Number of Jefferson Households Served per Heating Oil company : 663450
Jefferson Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Jefferson heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Jefferson temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Jefferson residences depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Jefferson County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Jefferson County Households | Jefferson County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
1 Jefferson Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Jefferson families during this past winter, the Jefferson community looks to its 1 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Jefferson, 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 Jefferson and the surrounding vicinity.
