Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Tioga Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Tioga, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Tioga families 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%).
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
Oil has become losing popularity in Tioga. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of families using heating oil dropped from 858,758 to 663,450, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Tioga
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 198,296 to 282,182, a 42% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,528,694 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Tioga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Tioga. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,087,741 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Tioga
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Tioga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 309% gain from 2014, when 1,760 homes utilized 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 number two heating oil use changes annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 families heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Tioga can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 1 “full-service” oil companies that serve Tioga. Full service companies such as WOC Energy or offer homeowners 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 1 Tioga cash heating oil companies serving Tioga include WOC Online Discount and .
Tioga Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Tioga: 2 companies .
Average Number of Tioga Households 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 residences depend on fuel 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 Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Tioga houses the last heating season, the Tioga community depends on its 2 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Tioga and the surrounding area.
