Heating oil bills have Massachusetts residents feeling the pinch.
More than 8 million U.S. households rely on heating oil to heat their homes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Massachusetts oil prices jump during those cold months between November and March, influencing residents to look for deals to keep their bills low. Does this Spark an idea?
Basics
Heating oil companies sell and price their product by the gallon. For instance, if a dealer quotes a rate of $3, that means you will pay $3 for each gallon. Most dealers want to deliver at least 100 gallons at a time, but you can sometimes negotiate this policy.
Prices
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources conducts a weekly survey of full-service oil distributors in the state. The survey provides average prices among state dealers. You can also find individual dealers on state-specific websites, such as Massachusetts Heating Oil and the Bay State section of New England Oil. Some websites provide companies' recent prices, but calling dealers directly will yield the latest information.
Considerations
Many oil distributors offer discounts to customers who pay up-front, as opposed to those with payment plans. Some dealers also provide discounts to customers who need service along with their delivery. Contacting companies directly lets you learn of any special deals they offer.
Tags: dealers also, discounts customers