Home heating oil prices up 18% - survey

HOME HEATING oil prices are up 18 per cent to an average of €964 for 1,000 litres in a further blow to consumers this winter.

Earlier this week it emerged that natural gas and electricity prices were set to increase this winter on the back of a series of decisions by the State’s energy regulator.

Yesterday the National Consumer Agency published details of a survey showing home heating oil costs are also on the rise.

The study found that the average cost of supply and delivery of 1,000 litres of the fuel is up 18 per cent this year, at €964 from €818 in 2011.

Home heating oil costs have risen 44 per cent since 2010. The agency’s figures show that two years ago the cost of supply and delivery of 1,000 litres was €670.

However, the organisation’s director of research and policy, Fergal O’Leary, said consumers could get a better deal through shopping around and bargaining with their suppliers as there were differences of between €30 and €40 within most local areas surveyed.

“In order to maximise savings on home heating oil, we would strongly urge consumers not to simply order from their existing supplier at the first quoted price,” he said.

The survey covered 165 suppliers in 24 regions across the Republic.

It found that prices varied by €40 between suppliers in eight of the regions. The difference was between €20 and €40 in 12 of the areas covered.

Dundalk recorded the highest price variation at €80. Kerry, Sligo and Ennis recorded the lowest, which was €10.

The highest price quoted was €995 in east Galway, while the lowest offer was €910 from a supplier in Dundalk.