Okehampton-based Moorland Fuels has announced that it is pledging to support those pensioners hit by the Government’s decision to end Winter Fuel Payments, by lowering the minimum quantity of heating oil that its state pension aged customers can order.
Introducing a new 300l delivery minimum – down from the industry standard of 500l – the change is designed to help pensioners with direct debit accounts spread the cost of heating oil this winter through smaller, more regular top-ups.
Matthew Crockett, Group Managing Director of Moorland Fuels, commented: “Following this week’s vote in the House of Commons, which passed the Governments’ plans to end Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners, we have taken the decision to support our customers through what could be a financially testing time.
“We recognise that the Government’s removal of payments worth £200 for households where the oldest pensioner is under 80, and £300 for households with those aged 80 or over, will mean that some may struggle to cover the cost of their oil-based domestic heating this winter. We want to help reduce that stress by lowering the minimum order size for those of state Pension age, which will help reduce their financial outlay per delivery.”
Under the new initiative those of state pension age who take up, or are already on the Moorland Fuels Direct Debit payment programme, will be able to pay approximately 35% less for 300l of heating oil than for a standard 500l delivery.
Matthew Crockett explained: “Although this is a commercially marginal decision for us as a business, as it costs more to transport lower loads of heating oil to more addresses, we believe that it is the right thing to do for those that will struggle to pay for their fuel this winter. Alongside our free Cold Weather Priority service, which ensures that over 75s and those who are medically vulnerable to the cold receive priority deliveries of heating oil, we are doing what we can to help our community of customers; especially those having to come to terms with the hammer blow of the Government’s decision in Winter Fuel Payments.”
Moorland Fuels offers a range of customer payment plans including its Direct Debit service which helps spread the cost of payments evenly throughout the year, meaning no unexpected bills or spikes. Moorland Fuels also offers its Never Run Out service, which automatically monitors fuel consumption and tank levels, triggering an automatic delivery when a tank gets to 30% full.
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