Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Grand Isle Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Grand Isle, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Grand Isle residents is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The other homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Grand Isle County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number 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
Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Grand Isle. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of homeowners using oil dipped 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 rose 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 more popular in Grand Isle. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity rose 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. As it stands today, 1,820 homes in Grand Isle are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 92% gain from 2020, when 948 homes utilized 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 number two heating oil consumption changes annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn additional heating 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 homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 16 heating oil companies that serve Grand Isle can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Grand Isle. Full service companies such as or offer customers 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 client does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Grand Isle cash heating oil companies serving Grand Isle include Robinson's Inc and Liberty's Fuel Oil LLC.
Grand Isle Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Grand Isle: 16 companies .
Average Number of Grand Isle Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 6239
Grand Isle Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 houses in Grand Isle heat their homes with 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 residences are reliant on 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 last winter, the Grand Isle community looks to its 28 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Grand Isle, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Grand Isle and the surrounding area.
