Heating Oil Prices Climb to $5.87 in North Carolina
The average price of heating oil in North Carolina reached $5.87 per gallon last week, well above the level seen a year earlier.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Oil and Gas
Live Poll
Is your household's winter energy bill higher than last year?
The average price of heating oil in North Carolina reached $5.87 per gallon last week, compared with $3.27 per gallon at the same time last year. Prices eased slightly over the most recent week, but remain far higher than a year ago.
Why it matters
Higher heating oil costs directly affect households that rely on oil to heat their homes through the winter. Some customers are already ordering smaller amounts at a time instead of filling their tanks.
The statewide average of $5.87 per gallon last week is roughly 80 percent above the $3.27 per gallon recorded at the same time last year, according to the reported averages. Sluder Fuel Oil Company's $5.79 per gallon price sits just below that statewide average, and the company's owner recalls prices near $4 per gallon several years ago.
The players
Sluder Fuel Oil Company
A heating oil supplier whose current price of $5.79 per gallon is cited as a local benchmark for the rising costs customers face.
Chris Sluder
The owner of Sluder Fuel Oil Company, who has observed heating oil prices near $4 per gallon several years ago.
The details
Heating oil prices eased slightly over the last week, but the statewide average remains elevated. Global events, including the war in Iran and difficulty moving oil out of the Gulf market, may be contributing to the higher prices.
Timeline
Same time last year: North Carolina heating oil averaged $3.27 per gallon.
Several years ago: heating oil prices were around $4 per gallon, according to Chris Sluder.
Last week: the average North Carolina price reached $5.87 per gallon.
Over the last week: prices eased slightly.
Market Landscape
The jump from $3.27 to $5.87 per gallon in a single year marks a sharp break from the price levels North Carolina households paid last winter. The rise is tied to global supply pressures, including the war in Iran and difficulty moving oil out of the Gulf market.
Some customers are already ordering less oil at a time instead of filling their tanks, which can mean paying for multiple deliveries over the winter. With the statewide average near $5.87 per gallon, households face a substantially higher cost to keep their homes heated compared with last year.
The takeaway
Households that heat with oil may benefit from comparing prices across suppliers and planning deliveries early to avoid paying more for smaller, frequent orders this winter.
What happens next
Demand for heating oil is expected to increase as temperatures fall, so households may need more than one delivery this winter.
Further reading
Track broader supply and price trends in the Oil and Gas sector to see how global events shape regional fuel costs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLOS.
Live Poll
Is your household's winter energy bill higher than last year?
