Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Pike Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Pike, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Pike residents 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%).
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
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Pike. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of families using heating oil dropped from 776,616 to 663,450, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Pike
Between 2020 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 251,472 to 282,182, a 12% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,656,062 to 2,796,352, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Pike
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Pike. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,254,850 to 1,447,260, a 15% 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. Today, 7,204 homes in Pike are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 homes had 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 oil use varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of 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, selecting 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 choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Pike. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two 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 client 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 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. A few of the 2 Pike cash heating oil companies serving Pike include Plociniak Oil Company Inc and Locklins Bottled Gas Inc.
Pike Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Pike: 5 companies .
Average Number of Pike Households Served per Heating Oil company : 132690
Pike Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Pike heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Pike temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Pike houses depend 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 Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Pike residences last winter, the Pike community looks to its 27 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: 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 number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Pike and the surrounding area.
