Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Montour Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Montour, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Montour families 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%).
Montour 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 Montour
Fuel oil has become less popular in Montour. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of homeowners using oil declined from 936,674 to 663,450, a 29% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Montour
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 rose from 2,530,063 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Montour
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Montour. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,046,982 to 1,447,260, a 38% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Montour
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 Montour are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 385% gain from 2012, when 1,484 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Montour County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Montour County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Montour’s overall number two heating oil consumption varies yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Montour was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Montour County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Montour County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Montour households heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Montour plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Montour. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating 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 households 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. Examples of 2 Montour cash heating oil companies serving Montour include RW Dittmar Plumbing Heating & Oil Company Inc Inc and Millers Gas & Oil Service Inc.
Montour Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Montour: 6 companies .
Average Number of Montour Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 110575
Montour Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 residences in Montour heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montour temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Montour households are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Montour County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Montour County Households | Montour County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
15 Montour Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Montour homes last winter, the Montour community depends on its 15 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 Montour, 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 Montour and the surrounding region.
