Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Venango Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Venango, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Venango 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%).
Venango 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 Venango
Fuel oil has become less popular in Venango. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of homeowners using heating oil dipped from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Venango
Between 2019 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 235,490 to 282,182, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Venango
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Venango. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Venango
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 Venango are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 homes had active solar heating.
Venango County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Venango County homeowners purchased a total of 398,143 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Venango’s overall heating oil usage varies each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Venango was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Venango County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Venango County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Venango families heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Venango can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Venango. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic 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 family 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 families who are looking to save money. 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Venango cash heating oil companies serving Venango include Heath Oil Inc Inc and Klasen Mcquiston Energy Corporation.
Venango Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Venango: 3 companies .
Average Number of Venango Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 221150
Venango Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 families in Venango heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Venango temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Venango residences depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Venango County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Venango County Households | Venango County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
15 Venango Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Venango households last winter, the Venango community relies on its 15 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Venango, 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 Venango and the surrounding area.
