Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Pike Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Pike, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Pike households is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Pike 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 Pike
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Pike. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of homeowners using heating oil declined from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Pike
Between 2019 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew 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 rose from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Pike
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Pike. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Pike
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Now, 7,204 homes in Pike are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 homes utilized active solar heating.
Pike County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Pike County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Pike’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Pike was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Pike County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Pike County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Pike residences heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Pike makes a big difference.
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 Pike. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Pike cash heating oil companies serving Pike include Plociniak Oil Company Inc and Locklins Bottled Gas Inc.
Pike Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Pike: 5 companies .
Average Number of Pike Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 132690
Pike Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Pike heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Pike temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Pike families are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Pike County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Pike County Households | Pike County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
27 Pike Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Pike homes last winter, the Pike community looks to its 27 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Pike, 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 Pike and the surrounding area.
