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PRESS RELEASES
31 July 2011
Options available to budget for oil heating
Responding to the recent Consumer Council report into fuel poverty that criticised the sale of emergency oil drums, David Blevings, spokesman for the NIOF said, “Small oil drums are sold for emergency use only. They are to provide a small amount of oil, often in a run out situation occurring out of hours which allows the householder to continue to heat their home until a distributor can visit the next day. They are not promoted as a method for heating a family home and we would discourage consumers from using them, except in an emergency”. “We are only too aware of the impact of increased energy costs on consumers in this difficult economic period. As a responsible industry the oil sector offers numerous products to assist consumers’ budget for their annual fuel requirements. Consumers should contact their local distributor now and plan ahead for this winter. Ask what options are available; these include pre-payment options such as PayPoint and Council stamp schemes. Most distributors will accept direct debits and many operate their own savings schemes. These schemes are ideal as the consumer can build up credit or budget using a free-to-use payment system that allows them to buy a more economical amount of oil and control their fuel spend”, added David.