Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Mifflin Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Mifflin, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Mifflin homeowners 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%).
Mifflin 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 Mifflin
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Mifflin. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of residents using oil declined from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Mifflin
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 jumped from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Mifflin
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Mifflin. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Mifflin
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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Mifflin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes had active solar heating.
Mifflin County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Mifflin County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Mifflin’s overall number two heating oil use varies annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Mifflin was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Mifflin County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Mifflin County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Mifflin residences heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Mifflin is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Mifflin. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating 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 families who are on a budget. 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 Mifflin cash heating oil companies serving Mifflin include Snedeker Energy Llc and Hilltop Oil Co.
Mifflin Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Mifflin: 4 companies .
Average Number of Mifflin Households Served per Heating Oil company : 165863
Mifflin Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Mifflin heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Mifflin temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Mifflin homes are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Mifflin County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Mifflin County Households | Mifflin County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
6 Mifflin Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Mifflin homes the last heating season, the Mifflin community looks to its 6 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Mifflin, 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 Mifflin and the surrounding area.
