Dear Friends,
In early October, OPEC announced it would slash crude oil production by two million barrels a day. Within just three days, our suppliers increased the cost of heating oil by 70 cents per gallon!

This is not just impacting heating oil. Expect natural gas, electricity, gasoline and propane to move higher too.

This is not simply about supply and demand.

When prices move this far this fast, you can always see the impact of Wall Street firms that jump in to take advantage of the momentum to make a quick buck. It frustrates the heck out of us.

Of course, by the time you’re reading this, things may have turned around just as quickly.

We saw prices spike in spring only to drop by over a dollar in summer. There are just too many variables to know where things will go from here. But please bear this in mind:

We hate high prices and volatility just as much as you do. It hurts both our customers and our company, and it makes planning very difficult.

Supply issues could become problematic. While we have excellent relationships with our suppliers, it is imperative that you go on (or stay on) automatic delivery. This way, if we either go on “allocation” from suppliers, have drivers out sick or face severe weather, we can manage capacity better and keep you warm.

If you’d like to know how much heating oil you used last year so you can project this year’s bills more accurately, call us. This is going to be painful, but it will be helpful to be able to plan for it.

If you are having trouble with your payments, it is critical that you call us as soon as you realize there’s an issue. We can work with you but only if you communicate with us early.

I will try to keep you informed as events unfold. (Please check our website for updates.) There are many things we can’t control, but we will always prioritize our existing customers over new ones. We will go the extra mile to keep you safe and warm. And we will be there when you need us.

Warmly,
Martin Romanelli