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The Facts on Oilheat – Get ‘Em Here!

According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), close to 9 million American households rely on oilheat. And even though we’ve recently wrapped up the winter heating season, it’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s heating options. In fact, for consumers who are looking to make a switch in how they heat their home, the summer is the best time to consider your choices.

Here are a few facts to keep in mind when comparing oilheat to other energy options, like natural gas:

 Cost:

Let’s face it, cost is a concern, and rightfully so. Unfortunately there’s no crystal ball, but the Energy Communication Council cites the following factors that could drive up the price of natural gas in both the short term and the long term. Combined with high conversion costs of up to $10,000, these factors paint a very uncertain picture about the consumer’s ability to save money by converting from oilheat to natural gas. 

• History shows that the price of fossil fuels track one another fairly closely. When the price of oil climbs, the price of natural gas closes the gap; likewise, when the price of natural gas goes up, the price of oil follows.
• With the price of natural gas at a historic low, major industrial users such as power plants, are converting from coal to natural gas. According to data obtained from the EIA, natural gas used for power generation rose 7% between 2009 and 2010.  Those numbers continue to climb.
• Natural gas companies are moving to export large quantities of natural gas overseas to Europe and Japan where natural gas commands a higher price. The federal Department of Energy is currently considering applications from American natural gas companies that would allow them to export as much as 16 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Should these permits be granted, the EIA estimates that the average consumer’s gas bill could increase, depending on how much is actually exported.
• The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Chesapeake Energy Corp., the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas, announced that it would cut daily production by 8%. The paper noted that, “the move is designed to reduce the glut of natural gas in the U.S., and therefore increase prices.”

Safety:

Oilheat is an extremely safe choice when it comes to heating your home! Did you know:

• Oilheat will not burn in a liquid state. In fact, if you drop a lit match into a tank of oilheat, it will go out! It won’t burn unless it’s preheated to 140 degrees.
• It’s non-carcinogenic and non-explosive, unlike natural gas. If a natural gas leak occurs in a home, or there’s a gas line rupture under a neighborhood street, dangerous and sometimes deadly explosions can happen.
• There are clear and early warning signs like smoke or soot if an oilheating system malfunction occurs. The danger signs aren’t always as clear or timely when it comes to natural gas. Poisonous carbon monoxide fumes can be emitted during a system malfunction – and without the homeowner’s knowledge. This is because of carbon monoxide’s colorless and odorless characteristics.

Environment

According to the American Energy Coalition, there is currently no renewable substitute for natural gas in widespread deployment. Oilheat, however, has a renewable alternative called Bioheat, which is comprised of a blend of traditional oilheat and biofuel made from plants and food byproducts. New offerings like Bioheat make oilheat even friendlier to the environment! In addition to Bioheat, Tevis Energy also offers lower-sulfur heating oil, which will save you some bucks and lessen the build-up of sulfur residue in your system.

Price Flexibility

Unlike many giant utility companies, oilheat service providers will offer discounts, credits, referral programs and even flexible budget programs to help customers easily manage their bill payments. Larger utility companies are traditionally more rigid in their pricing and bill payment structures and just don’t offer the flexibility and options that many oilheat suppliers do. Tevis Energy offers several payment options for our customers – visit our website to see what we offer. 

Customer Service

It’s a fact – oilheat customers are happy customers! Industry research finds that 95% of oilheat users are happy with the overall service they receive from their supplier, and it’s easy to see why. Many suppliers are smaller, local, family-owned businesses (like Tevis Energy!) that have been around for years and have serviced the same neighborhoods and same families for decades. Customers get personal, quality service that puts their happiness and satisfaction first. That can be hard to find with larger utility companies (that probably know you by an account number, not your name!)

If you find yourself considering a new home heating option in the upcoming months, keep these handy oilheat facts in mind. And give Tevis Energy a call anytime – our team is here and always ready to share our knowledge with you!