Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Union Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Union, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Union residents 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%).
Union 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 Union
Fuel oil has become less popular in Union. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of families using fuel oil fell from 760,867 to 663,450, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Union
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 increased from 2,677,533 to 2,796,352, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Union
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Union. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,287,322 to 1,447,260, a 12% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Union
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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Union are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 48% gain from 2021, when 4,867 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Union County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Union County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Union’s overall oil usage changes each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Union was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Union County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Union County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Union residences heating with oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Union is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Union. 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 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 family 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 on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Union cash heating oil companies serving Union include RW Dittmar Plumbing Heating & Oil Company Inc and Kratzer Oil Co Inc.
Union Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Union: 6 companies .
Average Number of Union Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 110575
Union Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Union heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Union temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Union households depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Union County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Union County Households | Union County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
25 Union Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Union homes during this past winter, the Union community looks to its 25 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Union, 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 Union and the surrounding region.
