Updated Today at 12:00 AM
Date | Average Oil Price |
---|---|
12/21/2024 | $2.964 |
12/20/2024 | $2.964 |
12/19/2024 | $2.964 |
12/18/2024 | $2.953 |
12/17/2024 | $2.941 |
12/16/2024 | $2.941 |
12/15/2024 | $2.932 |
12/14/2024 | $2.932 |
12/13/2024 | $2.932 |
12/12/2024 | $2.932 |
12/11/2024 | $2.932 |
12/10/2024 | $2.934 |
12/09/2024 | $2.937 |
12/08/2024 | $2.942 |
12/07/2024 | $2.942 |
12/06/2024 | $2.942 |
12/05/2024 | $2.942 |
12/04/2024 | $2.940 |
12/03/2024 | $2.900 |
12/02/2024 | $2.895 |
12/01/2024 | $2.879 |
11/30/2024 | $2.879 |
11/29/2024 | $2.879 |
11/28/2024 | $2.886 |
11/27/2024 | $2.886 |
11/26/2024 | $2.877 |
11/25/2024 | $2.887 |
11/24/2024 | $2.865 |
11/23/2024 | $2.865 |
11/22/2024 | $2.865 |
Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Kent County, used by 238,742 or 54.26% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Kent County homeowners is heating oil, used by 123,813 homes (28.14%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (48,633), propane (20,429), wood (6,316), and other fuels (5,741).
Kent County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Kent County Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 238,742 | 54.3% |
Heating Oil | 123,813 | 28.1% |
Electricity | 48,633 | 11.1% |
Propane | 20,429 | 4.6% |
Wood | 6,316 | 1.4% |
Other Fuels | 2,906 | 0.7% |
No Fuel | 2,274 | 0.5% |
Solar | 368 | 0.1% |
Coal | 193 | 0.0% |
Natural gas (54.3%)
Heating oil (28.1%)
Electricity (11.1%)
Propane (4.6%)
Wood (1.4%)
Other fuels (0.7%)
No fuel (0.5%)
Solar (0.1%)
Coal (0.0%)
Heating oil has become less popular in Kent County. In the 5 years since 2017, the number of heating oil homes fell from 128,844 to 123,813, a 3.90% drop.
Kent County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 157,426 |
2012 | 153,479 |
2013 | 147,768 |
2014 | 142,612 |
2015 | 137,451 |
2016 | 132,040 |
2017 | 128,844 |
2018 | 125,460 |
2019 | 122,583 |
2020 | 121,062 |
2021 | 122,289 |
2022 | 123,813 |
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 11,518 to 20,429.
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 218,597 to 238,742.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Kent County. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 41,797 to 48,633, a 16.36% increase.
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, 368 homes in Kent County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 260.78% increase from 2017, when only 102 homes had installed active solar heating.
Last year, Kent County homeowners purchased a total of 17 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Kent County’s overall heating oil use varies from year to year, primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more oil to keep homes warm. Last winter in Kent County, the average outside temperature was 4.3° F warmer than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Kent County Average Winter Temperature
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
2024 - 2025 | 41.9° F |
2023 - 2024 | 37.6° F |
For Kent County homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 45 heating oil companies that serve Kent County 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 45 “full-service” oil companies that serve Kent County. Full service companies such as Micheletti Oil Services or Reichert & Sons Fuel Oil 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 Kent County 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 Kent County include Anthony's Oil LLC and MATHEWS OIL CO.
Kent County Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Kent County: 45 companies
Average Number Of Kent County Homes Served Per Company: 500 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Kent County Oil Company: 371,763 gallons per year
Approximately 22,541 households in Kent County heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Kent County temperatures drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.
30% of Kent County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
Kent County Households | Kent County Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
73,112 | 22,541 |
180 Kent County Oil Companies Go the Distance
With 17 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Kent County homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Kent County community relies on its 180 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 Kent County, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses in Kent County.