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Home Heat Costs!!
As at 1st April 08 the annual home heat costs in Northern Ireland for oil and Natural Gas were:
Oil – £ 1214
Phoenix Gas – £ 1006
Firmus Energy - £903
- 3 bed existing house, non-condensing boilers filling a tank with 900 litres over the previous 6 months
Oil is under pressure due to rising crude oil prices.
New Regulations Governing the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
New regulations for the carriage of dangerous goods will have important implications for the operators of road tankers. The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006, will come into force on 1st August 2006. As well as revoking some 15 sets of existing regulations, the new regulations will directly reference the ADR agreements.
From 1st August 2006 new tanks will have to be constructed to meet the standards referenced in ADR, and will be required to be inspected, both initially and periodically, by bodies appointed by the competent authority. Old tanks, that is tanks constructed before1st August 2006, can continue in use to the end of their economic life with an important condition. From 1st July 2007 periodic inspections, currently carried out by a competent person must then be carried out by inspection bodies appointed by the competent authority, i.e. HSENI. Details of these inspection bodies are currently to be found on the Department for Transport website www.dft.gov.uk (Carriage of dangerous goods section.)
In addition, from 1st August, new vehicles used for the transport of certain dangerous goods in tanks, (including petrol and heating oil), will require a certificate issued by DVTA, following an annual technical inspection. This arrangement extends the requirements currently in place for international journeys, to domestic carriage.
(Subject to certain conditions, existing vehicles may continue in use without this certificate to the end of their useful life.) Further details are available from the DfT website. DVTA will be issuing information on their website and at Test Centres regarding the details and arrangements for this vehicle test. Furrther information can be obtained by contacting HSENI Transport and Utilities Group; John Wright, Principal Inspector, HSENI Transport and Utilities Group. Tel 02890243249
Budget
This year’s budget sees further increases on road fuels and gas oil - see link below for latest rates;
With the proposed increases in gasoil it may be beneficial to advise consumers burning gas oil to switch to kerosene. This would require some slight modifications to their existing boiler including replacing seals and changing the settings. Further advice from your nearest OFTEC Registered Technician - see www.oftec.org
HMRC
Customs & Excise and Revenue have now combined to form the HMRC. No major changes that affect the oil industry except Customs now has direct access to taxation and has been using this as an effective weapon against smugglers and fraudsters. HMRC have just released their activity report for Northern Ireland (June 2008) which makes interesting reading. See:
HMRC NI Activity Report June 2008
Any member with difficulty accessing the report can request a hard copy from the office.
Wet Line Contamination
As reported in the last news sheet Customs have adopted the protocol for wet line contamination http://www.nioil.com/WetLineProtocol.pdf
and if members stick to these guidelines they will not receive punitive action on discovery of an accidental contamination.
We are pleased to report that where Customs are finding minimal levels of contamination and members can dempnstrate compliance with the code that no prosecution is forthcoming.
Remember - follow the code if you don't wish to fall foul of HMRC!
Insurance
A number of members have contacted the office looking for the contact number for the alternative insurance provider offering cover in Northern Ireland. The contact is Paul McIlreavy on 028 9182 5525 or M: 07775576742.