Cheapest Bristol County Heating Oil Price History
Updated on March 3, 2026 at 01:00 PM
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 03/03/2026 | $3.850 |
| 03/02/2026 | $3.450 |
| 03/01/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/28/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/27/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/26/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/25/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/24/2026 | $3.420 |
| 02/23/2026 | $3.420 |
| 02/22/2026 | $3.420 |
| 02/21/2026 | $3.420 |
| 02/20/2026 | $3.420 |
| 02/19/2026 | $3.420 |
| 02/18/2026 | $3.330 |
| 02/17/2026 | $3.330 |
| 02/16/2026 | $3.330 |
| 02/15/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/14/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/13/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/12/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/11/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/10/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/09/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/08/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/07/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/06/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/05/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/04/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/03/2026 | $3.450 |
| 02/02/2026 | $3.450 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bristol Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Bristol, used by 235,913 or 53% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Bristol families 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 (in Number 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
Fuel oil has become less popular in Bristol. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 122,343 to 108,766, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bristol
Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 10,488 to 24,676, a 135% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 221,544 to 235,913, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bristol
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Bristol. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 43,722 to 70,606, a 61% 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. Currently, 1,046 homes in Bristol are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 261% gain from 2016, when 290 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 fuel oil usage varies yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 residences heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 45 heating oil companies that serve Bristol is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 34 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bristol. Full service companies such as Micheletti Oil Services or Dudek Oil offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Bristol cash heating oil companies serving Bristol include Anthony's Oil LLC and MATHEWS OIL CO.
Bristol Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Bristol: 45 companies .
Average Number of Bristol Households Served per Heating Oil company : 2417
Bristol Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 families 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% of Bristol households are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
12.11% of Bristol County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Bristol County Households | Bristol County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 898,380 | 108,766 |
117 Bristol Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 91,890,913.275 gallons of oil delivered to Bristol residences during this past winter, the Bristol community depends on its 117 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 Bristol, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Bristol and the surrounding area.
