Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Montour Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Montour, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Montour 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%).
Montour 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 Montour
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Montour. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of families using oil decreased from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montour
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Montour
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Montour. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Montour
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. Today, 7,204 homes in Montour are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes had 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 fuel oil use changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel 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 residences heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Montour plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer 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 oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two 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 Montour cash heating oil companies serving Montour include RW Dittmar Plumbing Heating & Oil Company Inc and Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc.
Montour Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Montour: 6 companies .
Average Number of Montour Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 110575
Montour Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Montour heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montour temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Montour houses depend 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 Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Montour households during this past winter, the Montour community looks to its 15 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery has two parts to it: 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 #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Montour and the surrounding area.
