Bulk Heating Oil

Please note that this scheme is currently SUSPENDED due to the wholesale oil price volatility. It is hoped that it will re-start when (if?) prices stabilise. 

Uffington participates in a scheme promoted by Community First Oxfordshire for the purchase of heating oil supplies on bulk-negotiated terms.

The original concept was that every month, and either directly or through village coordinators, Community First (formerly ORCC) accumulated oil orders from scheme members throughout Oxfordshire. It then placed a bulk order with the most competitive supplier for delivery to those requiring oil that month. Finally, all members were advised of the price negotiated and those who had placed an order were given an indication of expected delivery dates (typically 10 working days after the bulk order was placed). Orders were invoiced subsequent to delivery and payment was due direct to the supplier.

These arrangements continue and Community First have recently entered into collaboration with AF Affinity (a subsidiary of Anglia Farmers) in order to gain administrative efficiencies and enhanced purchasing power. As part of these new arrangements, AF Affinity pay the supplier direct each month and subsequently invoices those members who have taken deliveries.

A small annual membership fee applies but there is no obligation to renew nor, having joined, is there any obligation to order oil within the scheme.

As of December 2015, the scheme has been operating successfully in the village for 5 years with some 60 households and also the Village Hall and School taking deliveries. The scheme coordinator for Uffington/Baulking/Woolstone is Paul Armishaw (tel: 820385).

To join, go to the Community First, website and complete the online membership form and then forward the required membership fee. When you require oil, simply contact Paul. He will accumulate all local orders each month and forward them on.

A helpful document describing how to carry out basic checks on your own tank can be read/downloaded from the link below.

In light of FPS (Federation of Petroleum suppliers) and OFTEC’s (The Oil Firing Technical Association) recent "Tank Safe" campaign aimed at educating consumers on the best ways to maintain their tanks Rix Petroleum have recently created a video that details some important safety checks that will help to conserve your heating oil tank: https://www.rix.co.uk/blog/2016/11/is-your-heating-oil-tank-winter-ready/

The video looks at some tips such as:

·         Clearing the area around your oil tank

·         Checking how secure your oil tank is

·         Service your oil boiler

·         Topping up early to lower your fuel costs.

Rix Petroleum Director, Duncan Lambert, details these and explains how to carry these out.