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 common choice in Tioga, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Tioga homeowners 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%).
Tioga 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 Tioga
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Tioga. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil declined from 717,601 to 663,450, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Tioga
Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 278,621 to 282,182, a 1% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,698,411 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Tioga
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Tioga. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,389,291 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Tioga
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 Tioga are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 3% gain from 2023, when 6,964 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 fuel oil consumption changes annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 households heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Tioga makes a big difference.
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 households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “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 heating 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 Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Tioga: 2 companies .
Average Number of Tioga Houses 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 rely on heating 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 You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Tioga residences last winter, the Tioga community looks to its 2 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 Tioga, 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 Tioga and the surrounding area.
