Getting the best price for home heating oil

Average prices for home heating oil have risen by 22% but there are still ways of saving hundreds on the cost of a tank of oil. Consumer expert Tina Leonard gives Pat Kenny the details

The weather has turned wintry and damp and if you haven't already done so you will be shopping round for your first tank of oil for the winter months.

The price of home heating oil has come down from what it was three years ago but prices have started to rise again and are now an average 22% higher than this time last year.

Over the last 12 months, the average price for 1,000 litres of kerosene has gone from €670 to €818.

And sometimes the cost of oil is a county by county lottery.

Nationally the cheapest price quoted in a National Consumer Agency survey of 170 suppliers nationwide was €770 in Dundalk. (Last year it was €640 in Sligo and Galway North)

The dearest price found by the NCA was in Ennis at €850. (Last year the dearest was found in Dublin South at €720.)

Can I shop around for a better price?

Yes, and it’s a good idea to do so in order to minimise the ‘hit’ of increased prices, but depending on where a company delivers, you may only be able to shop around within a specific geographical area.

That is why the survey breaks down the price comparisons into 24 delivery areas. It found that:

In 10 of the 24 areas surveyed there were price variations of €30 or more in the quotes received from local suppliers.

For example in Dundalk the highest price variation was recorded at €70 (€770 - €840). So while the cheapest price was found in Dundalk if you live there you could be paying €840, which is only €10 off the highest price found in Ennis.

However, in 11 of the 24 areas price variations were €20 or less. For example the lowest price variations (just €10) were found in East Galway, North Galway, Kerry and Meath. (€810 - €820 in Galway east and north).

If you’re in Limerick city for example the cheapest found was €800 and the highest €830, so if you’re quoted €830 know that you can do better.

In relation to the highest price found in Ennis (€850), the lowest price found there was €825, so you still could get a better, if not the best, deal there.

Dublin south was not the dearest with prices ranging from €799 to €840.

What to do

• Know that the average price nationally is €818 and aim to get a price lower than that.
• Know that the lowest price found was €770 and the highest €850 so try and find a price as close to that lowest amount.
• These survey prices are the first prices quoted, but you can try haggling and negotiating; use bargaining tools such as being a repeat customer or saying you’re looking to switch for a better deal and give repeat custom etc.

Check the table here for prices in your area

For full price survey details go to: www.consumerconnect.ie.