Domestic Heating Oil: Price Comparison by Region

[kennythecelt]

Hi everyone

I thought I would start this thread as I have just been charged 50.8p a litre for domestic heating oil. I live in the Western Isles.

This worked out at £592 for a tank of oil and is the third time its been filled in 14 months- seems very expensive to me. In addition to the heating oil, I obviously have to pay electricity for all of the other appliances in the house.

I work and I am fortunate as I earn a reasonable wage. I am at a loss to understand how people on lower incomes can afford to heat their homes by domestic heating oil. Oil is also not the most efficient means of heating, dependent on the type of boiler appliance in use.

I imagine this thread will apply to people resident in rural areas mainly, but you may have a relative or friend who is affected or work in a related industry eg heating installation, Energy Advice Centre, CAB, etc.

I am also interested in finding out regional variations in the price of heating oil and tracking price rises over a period of time.

You may have heard of the Governments Warm Front central heating programme (administered by EAGA in England and Wales) and the Scottish Governments Warm Deal and Central Heating Programme (administered by Scottish Gas). Both these programmes provide a grant towards a new heating system and insulation where appropriate for qualifying households. I am all for choice, but should an oil heating system be included in the programme if the costs of running it are so high and prices are only likely to increase. The promotion of oil heating systems does nothing to take vulnerable people out of fuel poverty. It is difficult to shop around for cheaper deals for oil, in the same manner as switching power utilities.

I am interested in comments, advice and suggestions which may be of benefit to others.

Regards, Kenny

[Bigmac versus]

Hi Kenny you have a very valid point, being a heating engineer I hear this quite a lot but TBH I cant recall any costs they mentioned except that they were HIGH. A friend of mine who lived in a farm had a main gas pipe 120 yards away and after deciding to look into the costs of having a connection from it he was shocked to find out the costs were £12,000 plus. Its got to be a deciding factor when people buy properties these days, sorry cant input any more.

[bgsats]

Kenny, did you get any further with your research? I'm in a similar position, no mains gas, so around 11 yrs ago bought and installed an oil fired system. Just bought 1000 litres of 28 sec oil, at 47.65p + 5% VAT. Prices I was quoted varied from 47p (delivered 1st week in April - too late!) to 50.95p. I should imagine you would be paying at least a few pence more than that, given your location - I'm in NW Wales.
Just wondering whether it would pay to replace my boiler. It runs perfectly well and has done except for replacing the circuit board for the burner once. Was never professionally comissioned, so may not be set up for the optimum economy.
What's needed is the cost of producing one standard unit of heat, with different fuels. I was told the other day (but find it difficult to believe) that electric heating would cost me about half what I pay now. Somebody must have some figures, surely?

[kennythecelt]

Hi pg.

I think a good service would help if you are going to keep the boiler. It is a stove we have which acts as a cooker and also provides central heating/ heats the hot water- like an aga. We currently rent our house and the system is covered by a maintenance contract. It broke down over the weekend, but is now working better than ever after being fixed and having a service. Perhaps that would work for you.

I can believe what you were told about electric costs, particularly if it was on the right tariff.

(All prices I have quoted are also ex 5% VAT.)

A colleague just paid 56.4p a litre, today. (Yes, the price is higher due to our location. Diesel is £1.19 l).

Her price is a rise from my purchase price of 50.8p of 05.6p a litre or 9.9%, in 2 weeks. The last tank of oil at £562 would now cost £626, an extra £62.

I have found price comparison web sites but as they are commercial, I can't post them here. They mainly seem to be cartels of delivery agents and you select the best price. I can PM them to you, if you wish- just let me know, or a google will bring them up.

Likewise, there are people who calculate price in the method you mention. I have never done that but can pass the details.

I don't know your age, but if you are over 60, you might qualify for the Warm Front- heating and insulation. That might be one answer for you.

How is Wales today- as beautiful as ever!! I have spent some fantastic times there.

Regards, Kenny

[bgsats]

Thanks for the reply, Kenny. It's a good day here in Wales (at least in our part!), the best we've had for quite a while. Diesel here is £1.179, but £1.109 at the nearest decent sized Asda - but thats about 150mls round trip. I've also noticed a massive difference in 47kg propane bottle prices as you move around the country. All last summer we could buy it for £32 here, but at the same time saw it on sale in Thurso for over £50. I think it's £43 now.
I've always cleaned my boiler flue, and there's never been much to clean, so that might indicate the settings aren't too far off. I'll leave it for now. Can't take advantage of the scheme you mentioned, I've 5 yrs to go still!
As regards cost comparisons, I suppose what I'm looking for is pence per B.TH.U. If you have any links to sites which do comparisons along those lines, do send me a PM - thanks!
Edit - sutherlandtables website (hope that's not breaking any rules - if so please delete) seems to have all the info. - at a price!

[Lone rider]

Hi all, just registered with forum and noticed your thread. I am about to purchase central heating oil and live near Inverness. Any suggestions on who is cheapest in the area?

Thanks

[kennythecelt]

Hi and welcome to CAG Lone rider.

No sorry, I don't, unfortunately. All I can suggest is phoning around the oil delivery companies in your area, although you'll already know that. As the world barrel price has dropped, it might be worth asking them what the price is likely to be in the next week or 2, ie is it worth buying only a half tank.

One tip I can give is to try and tie up with near neighbours and tally up the amount of oil you would all need and then to use that as a bargaining tool with all the suppliers in your area.

That way, you would have an order for 5/6/7 full tanks of oil and they are more likely to reduce the price slightly due to economies of scale in the delivery, which could all be done at the same time. You would be creating competition between the suppliers.

Once you buy it could you please post the prices.

Thanks, Kenny

[Lone rider]

Hi Kenny, got the CH Oil from CPL at 53.7p/litre but usually when bill comes in if you pay prompt there is a discount. Didn't have time to phone round but they where rationing at the time as the Tanker that was supposed to come into Inverness Harbour was unable to because of the tides for over a week and BP was rationing out to all other companies until the next tie up. Cheers Martin

[kennythecelt]

Thanks for posting Martin.

Ah, the impact of weather and the tides. 5/6 weeks ago there was no oil here due to the bad weather, unable to dock. Makes you inventive!!

We have a Stanley range, so no cooking when no oil. Ended up cooking in one pot on top of the Morso stove we have- good fun, but don't want to do it all the time!

[kennythecelt]

Originally Posted by Lone rider

Tanker that was supposed to come into Inverness Harbour was unable to because of the tides for over a week

Do you know its actually cheaper per mile to deliver by sea than road tanker. Due to bulk and their transport costs.

Costs in our areas should reflect that!!

[choo]

Hi, I've just joined your forum as I came across the website whilst trying to find 'cheap' price for 1000 litres of oil.

I found, as Kenny suggested, ringing every company in my area to find the best price was my only option at getting a 'good' deal.

I live on the Suffolk/Cambridge boarder and have just ordered oil at 49.05 per ltr, . I had to haggle a bit to get this so don't be afraid to 'play' one company off the other!

I can remember purchasing oil when I bought my first house 15 years ago AT 17P per litre and I thought that was expensive!

[thunderbird30]

I'm living near Forres (Northern Scotland) and the time has come for me to order some oil.After phoning around,I managed to find out the following prices:
Brogan Fuels 54ppl
Gleaner Oil & Gas 51ppl
CPL 52.9ppl

Overall I need 900 litres (the minimum amount).Time to think about a wood burner I guess!

I've talked to a few people up here who got together and formed a buying group to get a discount.After negotiation ,the group was able to get a discount of 0.5ppl! Hardly worth bothering with

[kennythecelt]

Originally Posted by thunderbird30

Overall I need 900 litres (the minimum amount).Time to think about a wood burner I guess!

I've talked to a few people up here who got together and formed a buying group to get a discount.After negotiation ,the group was able to get a discount of 0.5ppl! Hardly worth bothering with

The discount is really disappointing. They currently have us over a barrel.
Sorry, just a bit of humour, given our situation.

The Western Isles MP has written to the OFT. I will see what I can find out.

Regards, Kenny

[kennythecelt]

BBC News Player - Oil thefts hit rural areas

BBC News Player - Oil thefts on the rise

BBC News Player - Tankers used in oil theft

Oil thefts on the rise- BBC audio link (sorry can't find a text link yet).

The problem of theft may will increase. Check your insurance policy, excess and conditions.

"A rise in oil prices has lead to an increase in domestic oil thefts, prompting residents to take preventative measures
10 Apr 2008"

Check the tank and oil level regularly, secure the tank lid with chain and padlock, use security lighting.

Kenny

[kennythecelt]

23/05/08

Friend told me he paid

68p litre today (ex VAT).


(2003 price was 32p)