Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Mifflin 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 Mifflin, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Mifflin 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%).
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
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Mifflin. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of residents using heating oil declined from 936,674 to 663,450, a 29% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Mifflin
Between 2012 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 188,880 to 282,182, a 49% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,530,063 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Mifflin
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Mifflin. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,046,982 to 1,447,260, a 38% 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 385% gain from 2012, when 1,484 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 heating oil usage changes from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 families heating with heating oil, picking which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Mifflin is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford 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 households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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 Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Mifflin: 4 companies .
Average Number of Mifflin Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 165863
Mifflin Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences 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 households 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 Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Mifflin residences last winter, the Mifflin community looks to its 6 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 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 region.
