Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bristol Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Bristol, used by 235,913 or 53% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Bristol families is Heating Oil, used by 108,766 homes (24%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (16%), Propane (6%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Bristol County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 239,155 | 26,715 | 73,640 | 106,143 | 3,308 | 1,101 | 3,931 |
| 2025 | 235,913 | 24,676 | 70,606 | 108,766 | 3,474 | 1,046 | 3,562 |
| 2024 | 239,478 | 21,922 | 63,619 | 113,718 | 3,280 | 896 | 3,236 |
| 2023 | 225,315 | 26,362 | 64,872 | 117,298 | 4,970 | 781 | 2,523 |
| 2022 | 240,848 | 21,720 | 60,798 | 112,289 | 4,812 | 686 | 3,106 |
| 2021 | 232,445 | 20,854 | 50,898 | 127,202 | 4,581 | 482 | 1,870 |
| 2020 | 228,782 | 17,674 | 46,340 | 121,808 | 5,244 | 362 | 2,025 |
| 2019 | 225,120 | 14,493 | 41,783 | 116,413 | 5,906 | 243 | 2,180 |
| 2018 | 226,173 | 11,618 | 41,491 | 117,880 | 4,634 | 313 | 2,687 |
| 2017 | 216,466 | 12,165 | 43,380 | 126,191 | 5,952 | 47 | 2,845 |
| 2016 | 221,544 | 10,488 | 43,722 | 122,343 | 6,219 | 290 | 2,140 |
| 2015 | 216,129 | 11,955 | 43,085 | 124,029 | 7,228 | 0 | 3,101 |
| 2014 | 217,810 | 11,457 | 39,832 | 129,877 | 7,318 | 0 | 2,159 |
| 2013 | 212,545 | 10,035 | 39,215 | 132,486 | 8,547 | 185 | 1,769 |
| 2012 | 208,173 | 10,361 | 38,606 | 144,208 | 7,592 | 204 | 2,165 |
| 2011 | 209,106 | 7,816 | 34,511 | 151,784 | 5,860 | 75 | 1,590 |
| 2010 | 197,703 | 7,793 | 35,706 | 151,847 | 7,084 | 0 | 814 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Bristol
Heating oil has become losing popularity in Bristol. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of residents using number two heating oil dropped from 113,718 to 108,766, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bristol
Between 2024 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 21,922 to 24,676, a 13% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel fell from 239,478 to 235,913, a 1% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bristol
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Bristol. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 63,619 to 70,606, a 11% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Bristol
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Currently, 1,046 homes in Bristol are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 896 homes used active solar heating.
Bristol County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Bristol County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Bristol’s overall heating oil consumption changes yearly correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Bristol was 32.1°F, which was 3.9°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Bristol County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 32.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 36° F |
Bristol County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Bristol families heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 44 heating oil companies that serve Bristol 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 select one of the 34 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bristol. Full service companies such as Micheletti Oil Services or Dudek Oil offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Bristol cash heating oil companies serving Bristol include Anthony's Oil LLC Inc and MATHEWS OIL CO.
Bristol Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Bristol: 44 companies .
Average Number of Bristol Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 2472
Bristol Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 residences in Bristol heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bristol temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Bristol residences depend on oil delivery each winter.
12.1% of Bristol County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Bristol County Households | Bristol County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 898,380 | 108,766 |
114 Bristol Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 91,890,913 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Bristol families during this past winter, the Bristol community looks to its 114 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Bristol, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Bristol and the surrounding vicinity.
