Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Newport Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Newport, used by 235,913 or 53% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Newport households is Heating Oil, used by 108,766 homes (24%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (16%), Propane (6%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Newport 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 Newport
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Newport. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of families using oil fell from 113,718 to 108,766, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Newport
Between 2024 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 fell from 239,478 to 235,913, a 1% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Newport
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Newport. 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 Newport
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all 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 (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 1,046 homes in Newport are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 896 homes had active solar heating.
Newport County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Newport County homeowners purchased a total of 12 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Newport’s overall oil usage fluctuates each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Newport was 32.1°F, which was 3.9°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Newport County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 32.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 36° F |
Newport County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Newport homeowners heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 26 heating oil companies that serve Newport makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 47 “full-service” oil companies that serve Newport. Full service companies such as A-Star Oil LLC or Dudek Oil offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC 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 household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Newport cash heating oil companies serving Newport include Kent County Oil Service Inc and Affordable Fuel Inc.
Newport Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Newport: 26 companies .
Average Number of Newport Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 4183
Newport Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 families in Newport heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Newport temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Newport houses depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
12.1% of Newport County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Newport County Households | Newport County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 898,380 | 108,766 |
130 Newport Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 91,890,913 gallons of oil delivered to Newport homeowners the last heating season, the Newport community looks to its 130 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Newport, 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 Newport and the surrounding area.
