Households warm to the idea of saving on heating oil costs
Encouraging response to fuel-buying scheme
Published:
THE founders of a north-east community fuel-buying group say they are confident they will be able to help people beat escalating energy prices and negotiate savings from suppliers before winter.
Richard MacNamee and Russell Ward intend to set up a regional non-profit mutual society or co-operative to buy heating fuel direct from suppliers.
They first appealed to Press and Journal readers to register their interest in the scheme six weeks ago.
Since then, 150 households from Inverness to Deeside have come forward to say they want to sign up, totalling nearly 400,000 litres of heating oil a year.
Mr MacNamee, of Whitehouse, near Alford, developed the idea in response to the steady rise in his fuel bills.
He has joined forces with Mr Ward, administrator of community website GrampianLife.co.uk where people visit to register their interest and to remain updated about the scheme.
They have calculated members could save £170 a year or more if they sign up.
Mr MacNamee said: “The figures from interested residents so far represent an annual total of 396,310 litres of oil and 20,857 litres of liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG.
“When you do the arithmetic our group is currently representing £214,007 of buying power, given a price of 54p a litre.
“If we can negotiate a minimum of 15% discount then we would be looking at an annual fuel bill reduction of over £170 for new builds and over £220 for traditional households that use the average amount of oil.
“We have been delighted with the response so far and we are nearing the target figure that will trigger our approach to oil suppliers.”
Mr MacNamee said the group aimed to attract 500 households by the end of its first year.
It intends to start buying fuel on behalf of its members before winter, and is urging others to come forward to strengthen its purchasing power.
Each of the households would need to join as members to secure the best prices for fuel.
To register your interest in the North-East Scotland Fuel Buying Group visit www.grampianlife.co.uk
