Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Grand Isle Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Grand Isle, used by 99,824 or 35% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Grand Isle residents is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The rest of the homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Grand Isle County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55,373 | 57,954 | 36,366 | 99,824 | 33,030 | 1,820 | 4,366 |
| 2024 | 56,646 | 56,523 | 33,651 | 101,281 | 30,344 | 1,660 | 4,241 |
| 2023 | 48,131 | 54,853 | 27,940 | 102,091 | 38,497 | 1,670 | 4,784 |
| 2022 | 50,240 | 51,520 | 24,105 | 105,894 | 36,184 | 1,106 | 6,886 |
| 2021 | 50,677 | 51,992 | 22,510 | 105,005 | 33,125 | 1,349 | 4,533 |
| 2020 | 49,752 | 50,131 | 19,616 | 106,832 | 33,799 | 948 | 4,630 |
| 2019 | 48,826 | 48,270 | 16,723 | 108,658 | 34,473 | 547 | 4,727 |
| 2018 | 47,328 | 44,423 | 14,122 | 108,961 | 40,731 | 819 | 3,930 |
| 2017 | 47,036 | 43,339 | 14,035 | 107,395 | 38,840 | 612 | 3,997 |
| 2016 | 46,388 | 42,621 | 14,097 | 106,498 | 39,455 | 571 | 3,822 |
| 2015 | 45,256 | 40,280 | 12,610 | 108,532 | 42,271 | 263 | 4,298 |
| 2014 | 43,091 | 38,116 | 11,250 | 115,387 | 43,828 | 179 | 4,258 |
| 2013 | 42,192 | 38,339 | 11,779 | 111,011 | 44,411 | 257 | 3,630 |
| 2012 | 41,601 | 38,497 | 12,532 | 114,708 | 46,051 | 206 | 3,749 |
| 2011 | 39,163 | 39,551 | 10,855 | 122,786 | 41,261 | 98 | 2,834 |
| 2010 | 41,357 | 35,529 | 13,667 | 122,832 | 38,777 | 122 | 3,182 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Grand Isle
Fuel oil has become less popular in Grand Isle. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of families using number two heating oil dropped from 106,832 to 99,824, a 7% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Grand Isle
Between 2020 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 50,131 to 57,954, a 16% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 49,752 to 55,373, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Grand Isle
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Grand Isle. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 19,616 to 36,366, a 85% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Grand Isle
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Today, 1,820 homes in Grand Isle are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 92% gain from 2020, when 948 homes used active solar heating.
Grand Isle County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Grand Isle County homeowners purchased a total of 693,582 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Grand Isle’s overall fuel oil usage varies from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Grand Isle was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Grand Isle County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Grand Isle County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Grand Isle families heating with oil, picking which of the 16 heating oil companies that serve Grand Isle 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 Grand Isle. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 families who are on a budget. 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 Grand Isle cash heating oil companies serving Grand Isle include Robinson's Inc and Liberty's Fuel Oil LLC.
Grand Isle Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Grand Isle: 16 companies .
Average Number of Grand Isle Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 6239
Grand Isle Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 families in Grand Isle heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Grand Isle temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Grand Isle houses depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Grand Isle County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Grand Isle County Households | Grand Isle County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
28 Grand Isle Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 92,108,924 gallons of oil delivered to Grand Isle families during this past winter, the Grand Isle community relies on its 28 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Grand Isle, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Grand Isle and the surrounding vicinity.
