Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bedford Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Bedford, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Bedford residents 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%).
Bedford County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,805,138 | 291,502 | 1,481,338 | 646,118 | 111,006 | 7,892 | 31,343 |
| 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 Bedford
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Bedford. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using heating oil dropped from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bedford
Between 2024 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 stable at 2,796,352, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bedford
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Bedford. 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 Bedford
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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Bedford are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes used active solar heating.
Bedford County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Bedford County homeowners purchased a total of 576,243 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Bedford’s overall oil usage changes annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Bedford was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Bedford County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Bedford County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Bedford households heating with oil, selecting which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Bedford makes a big difference.
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 Bedford. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 0 Bedford cash heating oil companies serving Bedford include Inc and .
Bedford Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Bedford: 0 companies .
Average Number of Bedford Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 663450
Bedford Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Bedford heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bedford temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Bedford residences depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Bedford County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Bedford County Households | Bedford County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
0 Bedford Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to Bedford homeowners the last heating season, the Bedford community looks to its 0 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 Bedford, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Bedford and the surrounding vicinity.
