Member Article

Government urges consumers to “buy oil early?

Consumers are being urged to invest in heating resources before Winter arrives, in a Government backed “Buy Oil Early” campaign.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change campaign is being backed by trade association, Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS).

A spokesperson for FPS said: “Our members welcome consumers buying oil early now when the weather does not affect supply and distribution.”

Rural communities group ACRE has headed the scheme, which takes into consideration how suppliers store and deliver fuel, and how this affects consumer prices.

Oil industry members of the FPS, who are responsible for the majority of oil deliveries to agricultural, marine, industrial and commercial sectors, welcomed the scheme which encourages stocking up and pre-buying of fuel.

John Hayes, Energy Minister, said: “I welcome the campaign by consumer groups and industry to encourage heating oil consumers to stock up early this winter.

“Previous severe winters show that it is better to stock up before the cold weather sets in, when suppliers have spare delivery capacity.

“Ordering oil later risks longer delivery times, especially if cold weather increases demand and disrupts deliveries.

The Citizens Advice Bureau and Consumer Focus will join ACRE, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and FPS in the campaign to ready the population for the ‘cold snap’ in expected in November.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .