Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Montour Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Montour, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Montour 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%).
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
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Montour. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montour
Between 2019 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 235,490 to 282,182, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Montour
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Montour. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Montour
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Montour are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 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 oil use changes each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems 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 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 homes heating with 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 value 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating 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 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 exchange for lower 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. A few 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 Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Montour: 6 companies .
Average Number of Montour Households Served per Heating Oil company : 110575
Montour Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Montour heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montour temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Montour houses are reliant on number two heating 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Montour households the last heating season, the Montour community relies on its 15 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 oil to residences and companies throughout Montour and the surrounding area.
