Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Heating oil is the most popular choice in Vermont, used by 108,499 or 41.06% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Vermont homeowners is natural gas, used by 50,127 homes (18.97%). The remaining homes are heated with propane (50,123), wood (35,629), electricity (19,788), and other fuels (7,814).

Vermont Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households

Fuel	Vermont Households	% of Households
Heating Oil	108,499	41.06%
Natural Gas	50,127	18.97%
Propane	50,123	18.97%
Wood	35,629	13.48%
Electricity	19,788	7.49%
Other Fuels	5,692	2.15%
Solar	1,042	0.39%
No Fuel	619	0.23%
Coal	461	0.17%

Heating oil (41.06)

Natural gas (18.97)

Propane (18.97)

Wood (13.48)

Electricity (7.49)

Other fuels (2.15)

Solar (0.39)

No fuel (0.23)

Coal (0.17)

#2 Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Vermont

Heating oil has become less popular in Vermont. In the 4 years since 2018, the number of heating oil homes fell from 110,704 to 108,499, a 1.99% drop.

Vermont Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)

Year	Heating Oil Households
2011	128,566
2012	124,072
2013	119,422
2014	117,459
2015	114,826
2016	111,441
2017	111,092
2018	110,704
2019	108,976
2020	110,870
2021	108,747
2022	108,499

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Vermont

Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 42,112 to 50,123.

Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 46,095 to 50,127.

Electricity use for home heating in Vermont

Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Vermont. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 12,957 to 19,788, a 52.72% increase.

Solar use for home heating in Vermont

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all space 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 in the basement.

Currently, 1,042 homes in Vermont are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 113.09% increase from 2018, when only 489 homes had installed active solar heating.

Vermont Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Vermont homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 84 heating oil companies that serve Vermont is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 3 “full-service” oil companies that serve Vermont. Full service companies such as Packard Fuels or undefined offer automatic fuel delivery and furnace repair under a single roof.

Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel Companies” or “Cash Heating Oil Companies”, these companies are for the budget-conscious Vermont homeowner. In return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank and place an order when you run low on oil. Examples of cash heating oil companies that serve Vermont include BART Energy Llc and Jam Fuel Llc.

Vermont Heating Oil Company Fast Facts

Heating Oil Companies Serving Vermont: 84 companies

Average Number Of Vermont Homes Served Per Company: 1,291 homes

Average Gallons Delivered per Vermont Oil Company: 1,096,534 gallons per year

Vermont Heating Oil Delivery Overview

Approximately 96,989 households in Vermont heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Vermont temperatures drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.

40% of Vermont Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Vermont Households	Vermont Heating Oil Households
239,785	96,989

84 Vermont Oil Companies Go the Distance

With 92 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Vermont homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Vermont community relies on its 84 oil companies to keep warm.

Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal. In the case of Vermont, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in So. Portland, ME and Buckeye in South Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses in Vermont.