Homes have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Blair, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Blair households 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%).

Blair 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 Blair

Fuel oil has become less popular in Blair. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of residents using heating oil decreased from 936,674 to 663,450, a 29% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Blair

Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 188,880 to 282,182, a 49% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,530,063 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Blair

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Blair. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 1,046,982 to 1,447,260, a 38% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Blair

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows 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 Blair are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 385% gain from 2012, when 1,484 homes had active solar heating.

Blair County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Blair County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Blair’s overall oil use varies from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Blair was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Blair County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	29.3° F
2023 - 2024	34.8° F

Blair County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Blair homes heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 9 heating oil companies that serve Blair can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Blair. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace 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 client 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 looking to save money. 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Blair cash heating oil companies serving Blair include Jacobs Oil Co Inc Inc and Jj Powell Inc.

Blair Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Blair: 9 companies .

Average Number of Blair Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 73717

Blair Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 houses in Blair heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Blair temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Blair homes are reliant on oil delivery each winter.

6.1% of Blair County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Blair County Households	Blair County Heating Oil Households
10.7M	663,450

55 Blair Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Blair households during this past winter, the Blair community relies on its 55 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Blair, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Blair and the surrounding area.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

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