Heating costs and winter rules for Upper Valley towns, in one dated place

Winter is starting. Heating oil in New Hampshire averaged $6.029 per gallon in the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) survey for Oct 12, 2026, which is $2.532 more than a year earlier. This page pulls together the official prices, who to call for help in your county, and the overnight parking rules in three Upper Valley towns. Every item names its source and the date we last checked.

$6.029NH average heating oil, per gallon (EIA, survey date Oct 12, 2026). Up $0.053 from the week before.

+$2.532Change in NH heating oil per gallon versus the same week last year (EIA). Last year's price works out to about $3.497 (our subtraction).

Dec 1Date state fuel assistance benefits start to be paid, per Tri-County CAP and Southwestern Community Services. Apply early: Southwestern Community Services reports more first-time applicants this year (NHPR, Oct 12, 2026).

Out of heat or almost out of fuel? State fuel assistance does not pay out until Dec 1. For immediate help, Southwestern Community Services says to contact your town or city welfare office; also call 211. Ask your fuel dealer about a payment arrangement. See Help paying for heat.

Start here

Heating costs this week: oil, propane, kerosene, wood, electric and heat-pump prices, side by side, plus a calculator using the state's own numbers.
Help paying for heat: fuel assistance, electric discount, weatherization, rebates; which agency covers Grafton and Sullivan counties, phone numbers, dates and income limits.
Winter overnight parking: Hanover, Lebanon and Claremont rules, with season dates, hours and the town's own page. Other towns are listed as "not verified yet" instead of guessed.

Example of what the change means (not your bill)

If a household burned 800 gallons of oil in a season, the same 800 gallons would cost about $4,823 at $6.029 versus about $2,798 at last year's $3.497: roughly $2,026 more. The 800-gallon figure is a made-up round number for illustration only. Use your own delivery slips in the calculator.

How this page works

We do not set prices or run any program. We copy published numbers, say where we got them, and re-check on a schedule (prices weekly, help programs and parking rules monthly). When two official pages disagree, we show both and say so. This site is one convenient view, not the only or the best source: always check the linked agency page. About this project.

Next scheduled price refresh: after EIA's Wednesday release (next listed: Oct 21, 2026). Covers New Hampshire's Grafton and Sullivan counties; Vermont-side Upper Valley towns are not covered yet.