Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Mifflin Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Mifflin, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Mifflin households is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Mifflin 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 Mifflin
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Mifflin. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of residents using fuel oil fell from 790,353 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Mifflin
Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 222,650 to 282,182, a 27% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,598,275 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Mifflin
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Mifflin. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,158,937 to 1,447,260, a 25% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Mifflin
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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Mifflin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 224% gain from 2017, when 2,225 homes used 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 oil consumption varies annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 heating oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Mifflin makes a big difference.
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 Mifflin. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel 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 customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Mifflin cash heating oil companies serving Mifflin include Snedeker Energy Llc and Hilltop Oil Co.
Mifflin Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Mifflin: 4 companies .
Average Number of Mifflin Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 165863
Mifflin Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Mifflin heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Mifflin temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Mifflin families rely on 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Mifflin residences last winter, the Mifflin community depends on its 6 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Mifflin, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Mifflin and the surrounding vicinity.
