Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Pike Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Pike, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Pike households 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%).
Pike 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 Pike
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Pike. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of homeowners using heating oil declined from 760,867 to 663,450, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Pike
Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 267,454 to 282,182, a 6% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,677,533 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Pike
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Pike. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,287,322 to 1,447,260, a 12% 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 flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Pike are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 48% gain from 2021, when 4,867 homes used 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 changes yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 families heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Pike is an important decision.
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 Pike. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler 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 household 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 families who are looking to save money. 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 when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Pike cash heating oil companies serving Pike include Plociniak Oil Company Inc and Locklins Bottled Gas Inc.
Pike Heating Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Pike: 5 companies .
Average Number of Pike Households Served per Heating Oil company : 132690
Pike Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Pike heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Pike temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Pike houses rely on number two 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 Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Pike residences the last heating season, 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 oil to residences and companies throughout Pike and the surrounding region.
