Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Newport Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Newport, used by 235,913 or 53% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Newport homeowners is Heating Oil, used by 108,766 homes (24%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (16%), Propane (6%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Newport 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 Newport
Fuel oil has become less popular in Newport. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of households using heating oil dipped from 117,880 to 108,766, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Newport
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 11,618 to 24,676, a 112% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 226,173 to 235,913, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Newport
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Newport. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 41,491 to 70,606, a 70% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Newport
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 234% gain from 2018, when 313 homes incorporated 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 fuel oil usage varies yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 residences heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 26 heating oil companies that serve Newport makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 39 “full-service” oil companies that serve Newport. Full service companies such as Dudek Oil or Wildcat Oil Co offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace 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 customer 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 families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating 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 Fins Oil.
Newport Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Newport: 26 companies .
Average Number of Newport Households Served per Heating Oil company : 4183
Newport Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 houses in Newport heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Newport temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Newport houses are reliant on fuel 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 |
127 Newport Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 91,890,913 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Newport homes the last heating season, the Newport community looks to its 127 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: 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 #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Newport and the surrounding vicinity.
