Updated Today at 12:00 AM
Date | Average Oil Price |
---|---|
12/10/2024 | $2.919 |
12/09/2024 | $2.919 |
12/08/2024 | $2.929 |
12/07/2024 | $2.929 |
12/06/2024 | $2.929 |
12/05/2024 | $2.929 |
12/04/2024 | $2.831 |
12/03/2024 | $2.815 |
12/02/2024 | $2.920 |
12/01/2024 | $2.919 |
11/30/2024 | $2.919 |
11/29/2024 | $2.919 |
11/28/2024 | $3.126 |
11/27/2024 | $3.126 |
11/26/2024 | $3.122 |
11/25/2024 | $3.127 |
11/24/2024 | $2.815 |
11/23/2024 | $2.815 |
11/22/2024 | $2.815 |
11/21/2024 | $2.786 |
11/20/2024 | $2.786 |
11/19/2024 | $2.800 |
11/18/2024 | $2.776 |
11/17/2024 | $2.776 |
11/16/2024 | $2.776 |
11/15/2024 | $2.764 |
11/14/2024 | $2.816 |
11/13/2024 | $2.816 |
11/12/2024 | $2.817 |
11/11/2024 | $2.817 |
Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Washington County, used by 238,742 or 54.26% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Washington County homeowners is heating oil, used by 123,813 homes (28.14%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (48,633), propane (20,429), wood (6,316), and other fuels (5,741).
Washington County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Washington County Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 238,742 | 54.3% |
Heating Oil | 123,813 | 28.1% |
Electricity | 48,633 | 11.1% |
Propane | 20,429 | 4.6% |
Wood | 6,316 | 1.4% |
Other Fuels | 2,906 | 0.7% |
No Fuel | 2,274 | 0.5% |
Solar | 368 | 0.1% |
Coal | 193 | 0.0% |
Natural gas (54.3%)
Heating oil (28.1%)
Electricity (11.1%)
Propane (4.6%)
Wood (1.4%)
Other fuels (0.7%)
No fuel (0.5%)
Solar (0.1%)
Coal (0.0%)
Heating oil has become less popular in Washington County. In the 11 years since 2011, the number of heating oil homes fell from 157,426 to 123,813, a 21.35% drop.
Washington County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 157,426 |
2012 | 153,479 |
2013 | 147,768 |
2014 | 142,612 |
2015 | 137,451 |
2016 | 132,040 |
2017 | 128,844 |
2018 | 125,460 |
2019 | 122,583 |
2020 | 121,062 |
2021 | 122,289 |
2022 | 123,813 |
Between 2011 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 8,191 to 20,429.
Between 2011 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 202,626 to 238,742.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Washington County. Since 2011, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 34,097 to 48,633, a 42.63% increase.
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all space heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank in the basement.
Currently, 368 homes in Washington County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 493.55% increase from 2011, when only 62 homes had installed active solar heating.
Last year, Washington County homeowners purchased a total of 17 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Washington County’s overall heating oil use varies from year to year, primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more oil to keep homes warm. Last winter in Washington County, the average outside temperature was 15.8° F warmer than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Washington County Average Winter Temperature
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2023 - 2024 | 52.4° F |
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 36.6° F |
For Washington County homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 27 heating oil companies that serve Washington County is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 37 “full-service” oil companies that serve Washington County. Full service companies such as Energy One or Sunshine Fuels & Energy Service offer automatic fuel delivery and furnace repair under a single roof.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel Companies” or “Cash Heating Oil Companies”, these companies are for the budget-conscious Washington County homeowner. In return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank and place an order when you run low on oil. Examples of cash heating oil companies that serve Washington County include JC Tefft Fuel & Propane Inc and Stop & Go Oil Inc.
Washington County Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Washington County: 27 companies
Average Number Of Washington County Homes Served Per Company: 828 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Washington County Oil Company: 614,768 gallons per year
Approximately 22,365 households in Washington County heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Washington County temperatures drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.
43% of Washington County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
Washington County Households | Washington County Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
51,139 | 22,365 |
175 Washington County Oil Companies Go the Distance
With 17 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Washington County homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Washington County community relies on its 175 oil companies to keep warm.
Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal. In the case of Washington County, 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 in Washington County.