Bristol County’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 Bristol County, the average outside temperature was 5.3° F warmer than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Bristol County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
Winter 2022 - 2023	42.7° F
Winter 2021 - 2022	37.4° F

Bristol County Heating Oil Delivery Overview

56,884 households in Bristol County heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential when Bristol County thermometers drop as low as 42.5° F each winter.

24% of Bristol County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Bristol County Households	Bristol County Heating Oil Households
235,722	56,884

1,279 Bristol County Oil Companies Go the Distance

With 50 million gallons of heating oil delivered to Bristol County homeowners during the winter of 2023, the Bristol County community relies on its 1,279 oil companies to keep warm.

Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal. In the case of Bristol County, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in E. Providence, RI and Shell in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses in Bristol County.