Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bristol Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Bristol, used by 235,913 or 53% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Bristol households is Heating Oil, used by 108,766 homes (24%). The remaining homes are heated with Electricity (16%), Propane (6%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Bristol County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 235,913 | 24,676 | 70,606 | 108,766 | 3,474 | 1,046 | 3,562 |
| 2024 | 239,478 | 21,922 | 63,619 | 113,718 | 3,280 | 896 | 3,236 |
| 2023 | 225,315 | 26,362 | 64,872 | 117,298 | 4,970 | 781 | 2,523 |
| 2022 | 240,848 | 21,720 | 60,798 | 112,289 | 4,812 | 686 | 3,106 |
| 2021 | 232,445 | 20,854 | 50,898 | 127,202 | 4,581 | 482 | 1,870 |
| 2020 | 228,782 | 17,674 | 46,340 | 121,808 | 5,244 | 362 | 2,025 |
| 2019 | 225,120 | 14,493 | 41,783 | 116,413 | 5,906 | 243 | 2,180 |
| 2018 | 226,173 | 11,618 | 41,491 | 117,880 | 4,634 | 313 | 2,687 |
| 2017 | 216,466 | 12,165 | 43,380 | 126,191 | 5,952 | 47 | 2,845 |
| 2016 | 221,544 | 10,488 | 43,722 | 122,343 | 6,219 | 290 | 2,140 |
| 2015 | 216,129 | 11,955 | 43,085 | 124,029 | 7,228 | 0 | 3,101 |
| 2014 | 217,810 | 11,457 | 39,832 | 129,877 | 7,318 | 0 | 2,159 |
| 2013 | 212,545 | 10,035 | 39,215 | 132,486 | 8,547 | 185 | 1,769 |
| 2012 | 208,173 | 10,361 | 38,606 | 144,208 | 7,592 | 204 | 2,165 |
| 2011 | 209,106 | 7,816 | 34,511 | 151,784 | 5,860 | 75 | 1,590 |
| 2010 | 197,703 | 7,793 | 35,706 | 151,847 | 7,084 | 0 | 814 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Bristol
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Bristol. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil fell from 126,191 to 108,766, a 14% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bristol
Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 12,165 to 24,676, a 103% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 216,466 to 235,913, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bristol
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Bristol. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 43,380 to 70,606, a 63% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Bristol
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. Currently, 1,046 homes in Bristol are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 2126% gain from 2017, when 47 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Bristol County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Bristol County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Bristol’s overall fuel oil consumption changes yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Bristol was 32.1°F, which was 3.9°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Bristol County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 32.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 36° F |
Bristol County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Bristol homeowners heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 44 heating oil companies that serve Bristol can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 34 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bristol. Full service companies such as Micheletti Oil Services or Dudek Oil offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. 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. Some of the 2 Bristol cash heating oil companies serving Bristol include Anthony's Oil LLC and MATHEWS OIL CO.
Bristol Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Bristol: 44 companies .
Average Number of Bristol Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 2472
Bristol Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 houses in Bristol heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bristol temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Bristol families depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
12.1% of Bristol County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Bristol County Households | Bristol County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 898,380 | 108,766 |
114 Bristol Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 91,890,913 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Bristol households the last heating season, the Bristol community looks to its 114 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Bristol, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Bristol and the surrounding area.
