Enter your ZIP for a free, comprehensive Rhode Island heating oil directory
No personal info required and no spam
Respected, local Rhode Island fuel oil companies at your fingertips
Choose between discount oil companies with the best oil prices or full-service companies bundling and heating service
Quality Oil
On-time delivery
No contracts
Trusted Rhode Island providers
Pay Later
4 interest free payments with
We promote residential heating oil savings in Rhode Island by providing real-time Rhode island heating oil prices and state-of-the-art secure online ordering.
Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Natural gas is the most popular choice in Rhode Island, used by 238,730 or 54.33% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Rhode Island homeowners is heating oil, used by 123,513 homes (28.11%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (48,608), propane (20,290), wood (6,261), and other fuels (5,741).
Rhode Island Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households
Fuel | Rhode Island Households | % of Households |
---|---|---|
Natural Gas | 238,730 | 54.33% |
Heating Oil | 123,513 | 28.11% |
Electricity | 48,608 | 11.06% |
Propane | 20,290 | 4.62% |
Wood | 6,261 | 1.42% |
Other Fuels | 2,906 | 0.66% |
No Fuel | 2,274 | 0.52% |
Solar | 368 | 0.08% |
Coal | 193 | 0.04% |
Natural gas (54.33)
Heating oil (28.11)
Electricity (11.06)
Propane (4.62)
Wood (1.42)
Other fuels (0.66)
No fuel (0.52)
Solar (0.08)
Coal (0.04)
Heating oil has become less popular in Rhode Island. In the 4 years since 2018, the number of heating oil homes fell from 125,105 to 123,513, a 1.27% drop.
Rhode Island Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)
Year | Heating Oil Households |
---|---|
2011 | 157,027 |
2012 | 153,138 |
2013 | 147,428 |
2014 | 142,250 |
2015 | 137,072 |
2016 | 131,665 |
2017 | 128,463 |
2018 | 125,105 |
2019 | 122,253 |
2020 | 120,814 |
2021 | 122,016 |
2022 | 123,513 |
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 11,882 to 20,290.
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 220,693 to 238,730.
Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Rhode Island. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 42,119 to 48,608, a 15.41% 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 Rhode Island are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 283.33% increase from 2018, when only 96 homes had installed active solar heating.
Last year, Rhode Island homeowners purchased a total of 92 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Rhode Island’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 Rhode Island, the average outside temperature was 6.2° F warmer than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Rhode Island Average Winter Temperature
Heating Season | Average Temperature |
---|---|
Winter 2022 - 2023 | 43.4° F |
Winter 2021 - 2022 | 37.2° F |
For Rhode Island homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 100 heating oil companies that serve Rhode Island 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 14 “full-service” oil companies that serve Rhode Island. Full service companies such as Dudek Oil or Nite Oil Co Inc 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island include Anchor Fuel Oil Inc and Helger's United Oil Co.
Rhode Island Heating Oil Company Fast Facts
Heating Oil Companies Serving Rhode Island: 100 companies
Average Number Of Rhode Island Homes Served Per Company: 1,235 homes
Average Gallons Delivered per Rhode Island Oil Company: 918,909 gallons per year
How much is home heating oil in Rhode Island?
How much does heating oil cost per month in Rhode Island?
How much heating oil will a home in Rhode Island use in the upcoming week?
How does the price per gallon of heating oil in Rhode Island compare to the national average?
How many gallons of heating oil does a home in Rhode Island burn annually?