Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Cambria, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Cambria 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%).

Cambria 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 Cambria

Oil has become less frequently used in Cambria. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of residents using fuel oil fell from 776,616 to 663,450, a 15% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Cambria

Between 2020 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 251,472 to 282,182, a 12% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 2,656,062 to 2,796,352, a 5% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Cambria

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Cambria. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,254,850 to 1,447,260, a 15% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Cambria

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 Cambria are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Cambria County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Cambria County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Cambria’s overall fuel oil use changes from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Cambria was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Cambria County Average Winter Temperature

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

Cambria County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Cambria homeowners heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 10 heating oil companies that serve Cambria plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Cambria. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 clients who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Cambria cash heating oil companies serving Cambria include Jacobs Oil Co Inc Inc and Barber Oil Company.

Cambria Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Cambria: 10 companies .

Average Number of Cambria Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 66345

Cambria Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 families in Cambria heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Cambria temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Cambria residences depend on oil delivery each winter.

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

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

80 Cambria Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Cambria houses last winter, the Cambria community looks to its 80 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Cambria, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Cambria and the surrounding vicinity.

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