Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Providence Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Providence, used by 235,913 or 53% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Providence families is Heating Oil, used by 108,766 homes (24%). The remaining homes are heated with Electricity (16%), Propane (6%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Providence 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 Providence
Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Providence. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using fuel oil decreased from 129,877 to 108,766, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Providence
Between 2014 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 11,457 to 24,676, a 115% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 217,810 to 235,913, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Providence
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Providence. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 39,832 to 70,606, a 77% change.
Providence County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Providence County homeowners purchased a total of 42 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Providence’s overall fuel oil consumption changes each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Providence was 32.1°F, which was 3.9°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Providence County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 32.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 36° F |
Providence County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Providence homes heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 48 heating oil companies that serve Providence makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 284 “full-service” oil companies that serve Providence. Full service companies such as Micheletti Oil Services or Reichert & Sons Fuel Oil offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are looking to save money. 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 Providence cash heating oil companies serving Providence include Anthony's Oil LLC and A-Star Oil LLC.
Providence Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Providence: 48 companies .
Average Number of Providence Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 2266
Providence Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 households in Providence heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Providence temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Providence families rely on oil delivery each winter.
12.1% of Providence County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Providence County Households | Providence County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 898,380 | 108,766 |
998 Providence Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 91,890,913 gallons of oil delivered to Providence residences last winter, the Providence community depends on its 998 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Providence, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Providence and the surrounding region.
