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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Fayette Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Families have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Fayette, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Fayette homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).

Fayette County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
20262,805,138291,5021,481,338646,118111,0067,89231,343
20252,796,352282,1821,447,260663,450112,2707,20431,146
20242,785,913276,5981,396,275685,083111,4166,15532,085
20232,698,411278,6211,389,291717,601111,5406,96444,558
20222,710,114282,6251,337,240742,118105,1475,28241,959
20212,677,533267,4541,287,322760,867109,8324,86746,436
20202,656,062251,4721,254,850776,616113,9004,55441,326
20192,634,591235,4901,222,377792,365117,9694,24136,216
20182,592,386225,4761,198,450806,761128,1102,19735,172
20172,598,275222,6501,158,937790,353127,1982,22535,586
20162,551,248209,7191,133,797805,822125,5831,63934,565
20152,549,385200,7541,103,995837,082141,8352,11738,034
20142,528,694198,2961,087,741858,758148,2561,76036,886
20132,516,052195,7991,086,074870,064148,5971,40833,941
20122,530,063188,8801,046,982936,674145,0891,48431,494
20112,516,883178,3871,019,764973,749137,6251,54528,259
20102,530,446177,562997,925993,832126,07459729,423

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Fayette

Heating oil has become less popular in Fayette. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of residents using number two heating oil decreased from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Fayette

Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Fayette

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Fayette. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Fayette

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. Now, 7,204 homes in Fayette are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes utilized active solar heating.

Fayette County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Fayette County homeowners purchased a total of 8 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Fayette’s overall oil usage fluctuates from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Fayette was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Fayette County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202529.3° F
2023 - 202434.8° F

Fayette County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Fayette homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Fayette plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Fayette. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two 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 homeowner 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 customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Fayette cash heating oil companies serving Fayette include Courtesy Oil Inc Inc and Latshaw & Son Home Heating Oil LLC.

Fayette Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Fayette: 11 companies .

Average Number of Fayette Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 60314

Fayette Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

Fayette County HouseholdsFayette County Heating Oil Households
10.7M663,450

203 Fayette Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Fayette homes last winter, the Fayette community looks to its 203 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 Fayette, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Fayette and the surrounding area.