Homeowners have a choice 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 residents 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

Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Providence. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of residents using fuel oil fell from 126,191 to 108,766, a 14% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Providence

Between 2017 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 12,165 to 24,676, a 103% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 216,466 to 235,913, a 9% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Providence

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Providence. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 43,380 to 70,606, a 63% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Providence

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. Today, 1,046 homes in Providence are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 2126% gain from 2017, when 47 homes incorporated active solar heating.

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 number two heating oil consumption varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 families heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 48 heating oil companies that serve Providence plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Providence cash heating oil companies serving Providence include Anthony's Oil LLC and A-Star Oil LLC.

Providence Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Providence: 48 companies .
Average Number of Providence Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 2266

Providence Heating Oil Delivery Overview

108,766 houses in Providence heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Providence temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Providence houses rely on fuel 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 Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 91,890,913 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Providence homeowners during this past winter, the Providence community relies on its 998 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 Providence, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Providence and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Bristol County, RI

Kent County, RI

Newport County, RI

Washington County, RI