Department of Energy and Climate Change
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Minister backs buy heating oil early campaign
Energy Minister Michael Fallon is backing a campaign encouraging heating oil users to stock up early before winter sets in.
Energy Minister Michael Fallon is backing a campaign encouraging heating oil users to stock up early before winter sets in. The Buy Oil Early campaign has been launched by ACRE, Citizens Advice and FPS (Federation of Petroleum Suppliers), who highlight that early orders can benefit from lower prices and prompt delivery of fuel.
Michael Fallon, Energy Minister,
“I welcome the launch of this campaign. The message is simple: stock up on heating oil before the winter leaves you out in the cold.
“Previous severe winters show it’s better to order early when suppliers have spare delivery capacity.
“Delaying risks longer delivery times especially if cold weather increases demand and disrupts deliveries, particularly in remote and rural parts of the country.
“Consumers may also want to consider establishing or joining a community buying group.
“The new Code of Practice and Customer Charter by FPS (Federation of Petroleum Suppliers) is a welcome commitment from the industry to engage with consumers on a fair and consistent basis and implement best practice to raise standards.
“I would also encourage households to save money on heating by using the Government’s Green Deal, which offers a way to pay for energy efficiency measures such as condensing oil boilers and insulation through savings on their energy bills. Customers on a low income or in a hard-to-insulate property may be able get additional support through the Energy Company Obligation.”
Notes for Editors
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The Minister of State for Energy is supporting the coordinated campaign launched at the Ministerial Round Table on Heating Oil and LPG held on 11th September. The campaign is run this year by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), Citizens Advice and FPS (Federation of Petroleum Suppliers), and involves the ACRE Network, oil buying groups and local councils.
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The purpose of the campaign is to encourage consumers to stock up early on winter supplies when suppliers have spare delivery capacity to delivery quickly. In the previous prolonged severe winter weather many of the oil distribution companies had an increase in orders and backlogs in delivering oil particularly in remote and rural households where roads where disrupted by snow and ice.
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The Ministerial Round Table has successfully brought together members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Off-gas Grid, other Government Departments, the Devolved Administrations, local councils, consumer representative organisations and oil buying groups, the competition authorities and the oil and LP Gas industries to understand the problems in off-gas grid market and finding ways to overcome them.
- More information about creating or joining a community buying group can be found on the Citizen’s Advice website
Details of oil-buying groups can be found on the ACRE website
For more information about the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation call:
Energy Saving Advice Service (England and Wales) 0300 123 1234 Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm Saturday, 10am to 2pm
Energy Saving Advice Service (Scotland) 0808 808 2282 Monday to Friday 8am to 8 pm Saturday 9am to 5 pm
Energy Saving Scotland 0800 512 012 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Saturday, 9am to 5pm
Or visit the Energy Grants tool on GOV.UK
For more information about the FPS (Federation of Petroleum Suppliers) Code of Practice and Customer Charter visit the FPS website
