Buying groups for heating oil and LPG

Wychavon has a promise to enable communities to build resilience through promoting bulk purchasing of heating oil and LPG for households not on a main fuel supply. We have been running events to promote this to parish councils and the wider rural communities. If you’re considering setting up or becoming part of a buying group we suggest you give this factsheet and useful resources a read.

Why do it?

It’s cheaper – discounts for volume orders and shared delivery.
Fewer goods vehicles – less vehicles in your village and less CO2.
Social cohesion – working together to benefit the community.

Quick facts to setting up a group

Getting interest from other people – social networking, ring rounds, door knocking to gauge interest.
Work out how and who will administer the group and what policies you’ll have.
Establish good communication – website, e-mail and/or phone.
Minimum order volumes – need to be checked form the outset.
Accepting deliveries – who will be around?
When to buy the oil? Will you buy at a fixed time or watch the market? Seasonal trends - it tends to be cheaper to buy in the summer – coordinators should encourage buying then rather than in the more expensive winter months or buying in say November rather than December.
Safe deliveries – suppliers will need all household details to make safe deliveries – details can be collected through the registration process.

Local contacts

Ken Wood
Pebworth Buying Group
Tel: (01789) 720296
Mobile: 07807048324
Email: ken.w.wood@btinternet.com

Mike Parker
Sedgeberrow Sustainable and Manageable Energy Group (SESAME)
Tel: 01386 881863
Mobile: 07949200207
Email: energy@sesame.me.uk
Website: http://www.sesame.me.uk/
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