Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Washington Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Washington, used by 235,913 or 53% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Washington families 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%).
Washington 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 Washington
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Washington. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of households using heating oil dipped from 124,029 to 108,766, a 12% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Washington
Between 2015 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 11,955 to 24,676, a 106% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 216,129 to 235,913, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Washington
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Washington. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 43,085 to 70,606, a 64% change.
Washington County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Washington County homeowners purchased a total of 17 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Washington’s overall oil usage fluctuates annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Washington was 32.1°F, which was 3.9°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Washington County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 32.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 36° F |
Washington County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Washington homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 28 heating oil companies that serve Washington 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 37 “full-service” oil companies that serve Washington. Full service companies such as Energy One or Sunshine Fuels & Energy Service offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace 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 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 looking to save money. 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. A few of the 2 Washington cash heating oil companies serving Washington include JC Tefft Fuel & Propane Inc and Stop & Go Oil Inc.
Washington Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Washington: 28 companies .
Average Number of Washington Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 3885
Washington Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 residences in Washington heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Washington houses depend on oil delivery each winter.
12.1% of Washington County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Washington County Households | Washington County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 898,380 | 108,766 |
204 Washington Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 91,890,913 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Washington families the last heating season, the Washington community looks to its 204 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 Washington, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Washington and the surrounding region.
