Posted: August 20, 2026
Independent survey conducted by Kimlin Energy, July 2026. 16 propane and heating oil dealers serving Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties.
Twice a year we call every propane and heating oil dealer serving our region as an ordinary residential customer, ask the same questions, and record the answers. We use the results to set our own prices. Beginning with this edition, we’re publishing the aggregate.
We are a fuel dealer. Our own figures are included in every range below, and individual companies are not named.
900 to 1,000 gallons per year, 500 gallon tank
| July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Lowest quote | $2.619 per gallon |
| Median | about $3.06 per gallon |
| Highest quote | $3.699 per gallon |
| Spread | $1.08 per gallon |
| Dealers providing a quote | 13 of 16 |
Two quotes were flagged as new customer variable rates, meaning introductory pricing that reverts later. Excluding those, the range narrows considerably. When comparing quotes, ask whether the rate is introductory and what it becomes afterward.
250 to 350 gallons per year, 100 gallon tank
| July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Lowest quote | $3.569 per gallon |
| Median | about $3.90 per gallon |
| Highest quote | $5.209 per gallon |
| Spread | $1.64 per gallon |
The premium over whole house rates is the single largest cost difference in this survey. Every dealer charges one. See the low volume premium section below.
| July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Lowest quote | $4.599 per gallon |
| Highest quote | $5.199 per gallon |
| Prompt pay discounts offered | 2 of 8 dealers |
| Fee | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Per delivery charge | $0 to $16.92 | Named variously: environmental compliance, hazmat, fuel surcharge |
| Annual tank lease | $10 to more than $100 | Rarely disclosed unless asked |
| Cap enrollment | $0.18 to $0.35 per gallon, or $49 to $299 flat | Both structures in use |
| Minimum use fee | Widely charged | Thresholds rarely published |
Dealers showing no per delivery charge are not delivering for free. Those costs are recovered inside the price per gallon, where they cannot be separately compared.
We asked each dealer for a quote at two usage levels. Every one quoted the smaller household a higher rate.
| Premium per gallon | |
|---|---|
| Lowest | $0.51 |
| Median | $0.80 |
| Highest | $2.15 |
For a household using 300 gallons a year, that median works out to roughly $240 a year, and the high end to roughly $645. None of it itemized.
A dealer with a named minimum use fee and a dealer with no fee at all may be charging a low volume customer similar amounts. One of them shows you the number.
| Restriction | Dealers |
|---|---|
| Whole house heating customers only | 4 |
| 500 gallon annual minimum | 4 |
| 400 gallon annual minimum | 1 |
| No plan offered | 3 |
| Enrollment not yet open, or expired | 4 |
| Will sell protection to a household under 400 gallons | 1 |
We rated each call on a scale of 1 to 5. Three dealers did not return three separate calls across the survey period. Two more scored below 3.
Responsiveness in July is a reasonable proxy for responsiveness in January, when it matters considerably more.
Between July 21 and 22, 2026, Kimlin Energy staff contacted 16 propane and heating oil dealers serving Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties, presenting as residential customers. Each was asked an identical set of questions covering price per gallon at two usage levels, new customer offers, price protection plan terms and enrollment fees, and additional delivery charges. Up to three call attempts were made per dealer.
Quotes reflect the market on those dates and change continually. Ranges are reported in aggregate. Individual dealers are not named. Kimlin Energy’s own figures are included in every range shown.
This survey is conducted twice yearly. Next edition: spring 2027.
Questions about the methodology: Customerservice@kimlinenergy.com
Kimlin Energy has served the Hudson Valley since 1982. We publish our complete fee schedule, with dollar amounts, at our schedule of fees, and we publish this index because customers comparing fuel companies deserve a benchmark, and none existed.