Fall in New England is gorgeous—but once those leaves start to change, the temperatures do too. As the cool air rolls in, many homeowners who use heating oil begin shopping around for a supplier.

Many heating oil companies offer contracts that let you lock in a price so you’re protected if the market suddenly spikes. Some even offer pre-pay options. If you plan to pre-pay, the Department of Consumer Protection recommends getting those contracts squared away by October 31.

Ways to Stay Warm and Help Your Wallet

No matter how you heat your home, these tips can help you stay warm and keep costs down.

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and a few degrees cooler at night.
• If you won’t be home for six hours or more, consider setting your thermostat a few degrees lower. But don’t set it too low! Setting it too low can make your furnace work harder or cause pipes to freeze.
• Lower your hot water to 120° or less to save on energy bills. Heating your water can account for almost 20 percent of your home heating bill.

• Check around your home and seal up any gaps or cracks to stop warm air from escaping.

• Schedule your yearly furnace tune-up so it’s running efficiently and not wasting energy.

Understanding Contract Terms

As you compare suppliers, here are a few terms you should know:

• Fixed or cap price: A fixed price means your pergallon price doesn’t change. A cap price sets a maximum—if the market drops, your price can drop too.
• PayAsYouGo: You call before each delivery and pay whatever the current market price is.
• Contract security: If you pre-pay, the company must keep your money secure for future deliveries.
• Excess credit refunds: Any unused, prepaid fuel must be refunded within 30 days after your contract ends. Get that in writing.
• Automatic default terms: Read the fine print—look for hidden fees or rules that could cancel your fixed rate, for example, if you miss a payment.

Questions to Ask Before Signing

Before you buy heating oil, you should know how many gallons of oil your tank holds and roughly how much oil you use in a year. Be sure to ask your supplier:

• If you pre-pay, how are they protecting your funds in case the company closes or has debts?
• Are there any fees if you cancel or miss a payment?
• Is delivery automatic, or do you have to keep an eye on your tank and call when you’re low?
• Are there extra charges for night, weekend, or emergency deliveries?

Keep Good Records

Hang onto everything related to your oil purchases, including:

• A copy of your contract
• Payment records
• Delivery receipts
• Notes about missed deliveries or contract issues
• Any emails, letters, or phone calls with the supplier

If There’s a Problem

If your supplier isn’t honoring the contract, the Department of Consumer Protection recommends sending an email, or letter by Certified Mail, explaining the issue and giving them a deadline to fix it.

If things still aren’t resolved, the Department of Consumer Protection might be able to help. You can file a complaint with the department by calling 8008422649 or emailing dcp.foodandstandards@ct.gov.

This article was written by Diana Shaw, MPH, director of outreach and education for the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. To learn more about how the Department of Consumer Protection can help, visit www.ct.gov/dcp.