Something went wrong
hamburger menu icon
User Icon

Search Portsmouth County, VA Local Oil Prices by City

Portsmouth County Heating Oil Price History

Updated on November 28, 2025 at 01:15 PM

DatePrice
11/28/2025 $3.899
11/27/2025 $3.899
11/26/2025 $3.899
11/25/2025 $3.899
10/17/2025 $2.899
10/16/2025 $2.899
10/15/2025 $2.899
10/14/2025 $2.899
10/13/2025 $2.899
10/10/2025 $2.899
10/09/2025 $2.899
10/08/2025 $2.899
10/07/2025 $2.899
10/06/2025 $2.899
10/03/2025 $2.899
10/02/2025 $2.899
10/01/2025 $2.899
09/30/2025 $2.899
09/29/2025 $2.899
09/26/2025 $2.899
09/25/2025 $2.899
09/15/2025 $2.899
09/12/2025 $2.899
09/11/2025 $2.899
09/10/2025 $3.299
09/09/2025 $3.299
09/08/2025 $3.299
09/05/2025 $3.299
09/04/2025 $2.899
09/03/2025 $2.899

Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Portsmouth Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Electricity is the most popular choice in Portsmouth, used by 21,899,762 or 52% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Portsmouth households is Natural Gas, used by 15,988,660 homes (38%). The other homes are heated with Propane (5%), Heating Oil (3%), Wood (2%), and Other (0.3%).

Portsmouth County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

DateNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
202515988660191548521899762112313686596623284125938
202414605654182077622375518123008177598938421122218
202313283884172955722777383133590568896252525118320
202212915692168298622575208142019168239946872115759
202112903130165743522048979151064072300431071115992
202012714842165452521467205160118576948720915114630
201912548580165339120958491167738582072815466111178
201812502398165125320589411174807087758512386110038
201712448883166139020242133182423392243210558109420
20161239587116628761996445119033899585619609109115
20151235805016435771964665020064009866928661108677
201412327193163834719255298213237310041637866107000
201312301431164461018908171227388910048146545100991
20121230234516401661854564924471261001535539794574
2011123444311663845181171802645134990470517690659
2010124101981720494176311322863138971122585192930

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Portsmouth

Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Portsmouth. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of families using fuel oil dropped from 1,824,233 to 1,123,136, a 38% drop.

Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Portsmouth County

DateHouseholds
2025-11-1191275
2025-11-1091283
2025-11-0991289
2025-11-0891295
2025-11-0791328
2025-11-0691339
2025-11-0591346
2025-11-0491361
2025-11-0391375
2025-11-0291391
2025-11-0191399
2025-10-3191399
2025-10-3091400
2025-10-2991401
2025-10-2891411
2025-10-2791428
2025-10-2691443
2025-10-2591458
2025-10-2491464
2025-10-2391471
2025-10-2291507
2025-10-2191514
2025-10-2091524
2025-10-1991531
2025-10-1891546
2025-10-1791554
2025-10-1691561
2025-10-1591602
2025-10-1491655
2025-10-1391662
2025-10-1291670
2025-10-1191685
2025-10-1091692
2025-10-0991697
2025-10-0891709
2025-10-0791745
2025-10-0691752
2025-10-0591770
2025-10-0491773
2025-10-0391793
2025-10-0291805
2025-10-0191815
2025-09-3091816
2025-09-2991818

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Portsmouth

Between 2017 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 1,661,390 to 1,915,485, a 15% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 12,448,883 to 15,988,660, a 28% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Portsmouth

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Portsmouth. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 20,242,133 to 21,899,762, a 8% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Portsmouth

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. Currently, 23,284 homes in Portsmouth are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 121% gain from 2017, when 10,558 homes utilized active solar heating.

Portsmouth County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Portsmouth County homeowners purchased a total of 251,258 gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Portsmouth’s overall heating oil consumption fluctuates annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Portsmouth was 37°F, which was 2.2°F warmer than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Portsmouth County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202534.9° F
2023 - 202434.3° F

Portsmouth County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Portsmouth families heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Portsmouth plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Portsmouth. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic 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 client does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Portsmouth cash heating oil companies serving Portsmouth include Bogue Oil and Griffin Oil & Propane.

Portsmouth Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Portsmouth: 6 companies . Average Number of Portsmouth Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 416

Portsmouth Heating Oil Delivery Overview

289,829 residences in Portsmouth heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Portsmouth temperatures drop as low as 37° F each winter. 2% of Portsmouth homes rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.

1.07% of Portsmouth County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Portsmouth County HouseholdsPortsmouth County Heating Oil Households
519,8505,568

6 Portsmouth Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community

With 78,461,879.395 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Portsmouth families last winter, the Portsmouth community depends on its 6 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Portsmouth, two of the closest terminals are Motiva in Fairfax, VA and Buckeye in Baltimore, MD. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Portsmouth and the surrounding area.