Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Newport 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 Newport, used by 235,913 or 53% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Newport 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%).
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 frequently used in Newport. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of families using number two heating oil fell from 132,486 to 108,766, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Newport
Between 2013 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 10,035 to 24,676, a 146% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 212,545 to 235,913, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Newport
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Newport. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 39,215 to 70,606, a 80% 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 flows 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 Newport are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 465% gain from 2013, when 185 homes used 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 heating oil consumption changes from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 households heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 25 heating oil companies that serve Newport can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 39 “full-service” oil companies that serve Newport. Full service companies such as Dudek Oil or Wildcat Oil Co offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients 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. Examples of 2 Newport cash heating oil companies serving Newport include Kent County Oil Service Inc and Affordable Fuel Inc.
Newport Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Newport: 25 companies .
Average Number of Newport Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 4351
Newport Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 households 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 homes 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 |
122 Newport Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 91,890,913 gallons of oil delivered to Newport households last winter, the Newport community looks to its 122 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Newport and the surrounding region.
