Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bristol Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Bristol, used by 235,913 or 53% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Bristol homeowners is Heating Oil, used by 108,766 homes (24%). The other 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
Heating oil has become less popular in Bristol. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of homeowners using oil declined from 113,718 to 108,766, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bristol
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 21,922 to 24,676, a 13% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel decreased from 239,478 to 235,913, a 1% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bristol
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Bristol. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 63,619 to 70,606, a 11% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Bristol
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 1,046 homes in Bristol are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 896 homes had 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 oil use changes from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 families heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 45 heating oil companies that serve Bristol makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 34 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bristol. Full service companies such as Micheletti Oil Services or Dudek Oil offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC 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 client 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 households who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Bristol cash heating oil companies serving Bristol include Anthony's Oil LLC and MATHEWS OIL CO.
Bristol Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Bristol: 45 companies .
Average Number of Bristol Households Served per Heating Oil company : 2417
Bristol Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 residences in Bristol heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bristol temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Bristol houses rely 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 |
116 Bristol Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 91,890,913 gallons of heating oil delivered to Bristol homes last winter, the Bristol community looks to its 116 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Bristol, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Bristol and the surrounding region.
