Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Monroe Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Monroe, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Monroe 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%).
Monroe 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 Monroe
Oil has become less frequently used in Monroe. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of households using number two heating oil decreased from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Monroe
Between 2018 and today, the number of households 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 rose from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Monroe
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Monroe. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Monroe
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 Monroe are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Monroe County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Monroe County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Monroe’s overall fuel oil use fluctuates yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, 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 Monroe was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Monroe County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Monroe County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Monroe homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Monroe makes a big difference.
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 11 “full-service” oil companies that serve Monroe. Full service companies such as DeSousa Oil & Service Corp or Keller Enterprises Inc offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Monroe cash heating oil companies serving Monroe include Liberty Oil & Propane and Pennywise Fuel Inc.
Monroe Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Monroe: 11 companies .
Average Number of Monroe Households Served per Heating Oil company : 60314
Monroe Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Monroe heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Monroe temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Monroe families rely on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Monroe County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Monroe County Households | Monroe County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
67 Monroe Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Monroe homes last winter, the Monroe community depends on its 67 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 Monroe, 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 Monroe and the surrounding area.