Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Venango Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Venango, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Venango 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%).
Venango 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 Venango
Fuel oil has become less popular in Venango. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of homeowners using fuel oil decreased from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Venango
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 276,598 to 282,182, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel remained unchanged at 2,796,352, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Venango
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Venango. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Venango
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 Venango are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes used active solar heating.
Venango County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Venango County homeowners purchased a total of 398,143 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Venango’s overall oil consumption fluctuates annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Venango was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Venango County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Venango County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Venango households heating with oil, picking which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Venango makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Venango. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two 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 household 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 homeowners 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 when you're running low. Some of the 2 Venango cash heating oil companies serving Venango include Heath Oil Inc and Klasen Mcquiston Energy Corporation.
Venango Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Venango: 3 companies .
Average Number of Venango Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 221150
Venango Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Venango heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Venango temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Venango residences depend on oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Venango County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Venango County Households | Venango County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
15 Venango Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Venango residences the last heating season, the Venango community looks to its 15 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Venango, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Venango and the surrounding region.
