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 common choice in Grand Isle, used by 99,824 or 35% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Grand Isle households 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
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Grand Isle. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using fuel oil fell from 102,091 to 99,824, a 2% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Grand Isle
Between 2023 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 54,853 to 57,954, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 48,131 to 55,373, a 15% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Grand Isle
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Grand Isle. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 27,940 to 36,366, a 30% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Grand Isle
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. Today, 1,820 homes in Grand Isle are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 9% gain from 2023, when 1,670 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 fluctuates from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional 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 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 prefer 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 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 Households Served per Heating Oil company : 6239
Grand Isle Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 residences in Grand Isle heat their homes with 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 are reliant on fuel 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Grand Isle homeowners the last heating season, the Grand Isle community looks to its 28 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 Grand Isle, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Grand Isle and the surrounding region.
