Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Tioga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Tioga, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Tioga homeowners 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%).
Tioga 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 Tioga
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Tioga. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of households using heating oil dipped from 776,616 to 663,450, a 15% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Tioga
Between 2020 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up 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 increased from 2,656,062 to 2,796,352, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Tioga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Tioga. 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 Tioga
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 Tioga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 homes used active solar heating.
Tioga County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Tioga County homeowners purchased a total of 84,533 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Tioga’s overall heating oil usage varies annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Tioga was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Tioga County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Tioga County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Tioga residences heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Tioga can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 1 “full-service” oil companies that serve Tioga. Full service companies such as WOC Energy or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler 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 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 families who are looking to save money. 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 1 Tioga cash heating oil companies serving Tioga include WOC Online Discount and .
Tioga Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Tioga: 2 companies .
Average Number of Tioga Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 331725
Tioga Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Tioga heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Tioga temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Tioga houses rely on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Tioga County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Tioga County Households | Tioga County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
2 Tioga Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Tioga households last winter, the Tioga community looks to its 2 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 Tioga, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Tioga and the surrounding area.
