Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Mifflin Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice 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 homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Mifflin families 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
Oil has become less popular in Mifflin. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using oil declined from 858,758 to 663,450, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Mifflin
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 198,296 to 282,182, a 42% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,528,694 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Mifflin
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Mifflin. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,087,741 to 1,447,260, a 33% 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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Mifflin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 309% gain from 2014, when 1,760 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 oil usage changes each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel 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 heating oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Mifflin can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value 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 heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Mifflin cash heating oil companies serving Mifflin include Snedeker Energy Llc and Hilltop Oil Co.
Mifflin Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Mifflin: 4 companies .
Average Number of Mifflin Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 165863
Mifflin Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Mifflin heat their homes with 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 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 Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Mifflin homeowners the last heating season, the Mifflin community depends on its 6 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery is a two step process: 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 fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Mifflin and the surrounding area.
