Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Juniata Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Juniata, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Juniata 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%).
Juniata 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 Juniata
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Juniata. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of residents using fuel oil dropped from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Juniata
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 276,598 to 282,182, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel held steady at 2,796,352, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Juniata
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Juniata. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Juniata
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. Today, 7,204 homes in Juniata are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes had active solar heating.
Juniata County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Juniata County homeowners purchased a total of 727,241 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Juniata’s overall fuel oil use fluctuates yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Juniata was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Juniata County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Juniata County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Juniata homeowners heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Juniata can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
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 Juniata. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Juniata cash heating oil companies serving Juniata include Snedeker Energy Llc and Hilltop Oil Co.
Juniata Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Juniata: 3 companies .
Average Number of Juniata Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 221150
Juniata Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Juniata heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Juniata temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Juniata residences are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Juniata County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Juniata County Households | Juniata County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
5 Juniata Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Juniata homeowners last winter, the Juniata community depends on its 5 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 Juniata, 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 Juniata and the surrounding region.
