Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Montour Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Montour, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Montour families 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%).
Montour 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 Montour
Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Montour. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using oil declined from 806,761 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montour
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 shot up from 2,592,386 to 2,796,352, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Montour
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Montour. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,198,450 to 1,447,260, a 21% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Montour
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 7,204 homes in Montour are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 228% gain from 2018, when 2,197 homes used active solar heating.
Montour County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Montour County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Montour’s overall oil use changes each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Montour was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Montour County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Montour County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Montour homeowners heating with oil, choosing which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Montour is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Montour. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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 households who are looking to save money. 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. Some of the 2 Montour cash heating oil companies serving Montour include RW Dittmar Plumbing Heating & Oil Company Inc and Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc.
Montour Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Montour: 6 companies .
Average Number of Montour Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 110575
Montour Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Montour heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montour temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Montour households rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Montour County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Montour County Households | Montour County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
15 Montour Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Montour houses last winter, the Montour community relies on its 15 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 Montour, 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 Montour and the surrounding area.
