Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Montour Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families 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 residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Montour residents 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 (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
Fuel oil has become less popular in Montour. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of households using number two heating oil declined from 742,118 to 663,450, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montour
Between 2022 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel held steady at 282,182, a 0% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,710,114 to 2,796,352, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Montour
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Montour. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,337,240 to 1,447,260, a 8% 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 36% gain from 2022, when 5,282 homes utilized 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 usage fluctuates from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of 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 families heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Montour is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Montour. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 families who are looking to save money. 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. 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 Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Montour: 6 companies .
Average Number of Montour Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 110575
Montour Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses 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 depend on 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 Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Montour homes the last heating season, 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 number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Montour and the surrounding region.
