Help with bills if you use alternative fuels

It’s worth getting at least 3 quotes from different suppliers. You can compare prices and choose the best option for you. 

You should get quotes from suppliers who are members of the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA). Member suppliers have to act professionally and treat you fairly. If they don’t, you can complain. 

Check how to find a UKIFDA supplier on the UKIFDA website. 

It’s best to order when the oil prices are cheaper - usually in the summer and early autumn.

It’s usually also cheaper to get oil delivered in a few weeks’ time instead of an urgent delivery.

Before you order, also check for extra fees or service charges.

You could put some money aside each month in a savings account to help you spread the cost over a year.

Make sure you have enough oil in the tank while you wait for deliveries - at least quarter of a tank. If the oil level gets too low, the system could get damaged and need expensive repairs.

It might be cheaper to order a larger amount of oil, instead of several smaller orders. Check your tank to make sure you’ve got enough space for a larger amount of oil.

If you want to save money by ordering with other people

You might be able to save on oil costs by joining an ‘oil club’. This means you buy your heating oil at the same time as with other people in the area.

You can search for an oil club online, on social media or on community notice boards. You can also check with your local council.

Find your local council on GOV.UK.

If there’s not already an oil club in your area, you can set up one yourself.

If you’re 75 years old or over

If your supplier is a member of the UKIFDA, they should prioritise deliveries to you. This is called the ‘Cold Weather Priority Initiative’.

You, or someone you live with, must be aged 75 or over. Your supplier should automatically add you to the ‘Cold Weather Priority Initiative’, but you should check you’re on it. If you use more than one supplier, you’ll need to check with each supplier.

You might have to ask them to add you. You don’t have to pay for this.

Check if your supplier is a UKIFDA member on the UKIFDA website.

If you have a storage tank, you’ll usually be tied into a 2-year contract. Ask your supplier when your contract ends. You might be able to find a better deal with another supplier.

Most suppliers will let you keep your old tank. If they want to fit their own tank, they must pay for this - you can’t be charged for the removal of the old tank.

It’s usually cheaper to buy your coal and wood in bulk. You might be able to find a better deal with another supplier - make sure you look around for deals regularly.

You might also want to look into using different types of coal or wood. Some might be more energy efficient than others, which could save you money.

You can check how to use your solid fuel heating system efficiently on the Solid Fuel Association website.