LPG fuel deal, community oil bulk buying scheme and free insulation to all households. 

Residents in the Malvern Hills district could save up to 30 per cent on their heating bills thanks to a ground-breaking deal struck between the district council and Lister Gases Limited. In addition, there are options to join a new community oil bulk buying scheme and all households are entitled to free insulation so make sure you take advantage of this before winter really sets in!

LPG deal 

Householders already buying liquified petroleum gas (LPG) from Lister Gases, of Wednesbury, West Midlands, could see a drop in their fuel bills from 1 November, while others who are not tied into a contract can switch supplier to take advantage of the deal. Those tied to an agreement with another supplier will have to wait until the contract ends if they want to switch.

Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) has been working with LPG suppliers to achieve a bulk fuel price for its residents to help reduce fuel poverty in its largely rural area. This is one of the first deals of its kind in the country.

The agreement states that any eligible household will be charged a price at a fixed margin above the Argus North Sea Index wholesale price. People switching to Lister Gases would have to sign up for two years, which is the standard length of contract with an LPG supplier. For the first month of a contract starting in May 2013 the price would be 39.48 pence per litre (excluding VAT).  Each month thereafter a new price, based on tracking the latest wholesale price, will be fixed for the following month but will still be at the fixed margin above the wholesale price.  The price was 50.9 in December and has come down every month since then.

MHDC will monitor the price offered by Lister Gases on a regular basis to make sure residents, who have signed up to the deal, continue to benefit from a fair price which will come down as well as go up.

Leader of the council Councillor David Hughes said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people in our rural communities to benefit from a fair and open deal which will help to cut their fuel bills.We are making great strides to tackle fuel poverty in the district and this is another example of the excellent work being done.Our research shows that the area is one of the worst in England for fuel poverty. We are already tackling energy efficiency by offering free loft and cavity wall insulation to homeowners.

“In addition, with regard to other fuel such as oil, we already have two bulk oil buying groups in the district – The Martley Syndicate and the Hanley & Welland Oil Club.  We intend to support other similar groups in the district alongside assisting those people with heating systems running on LPG.”

About a third of Malvern Hills district residents do not have access to mains gas and have to rely on oil, solid fuel, electricity or LPG to heat their homes. Between 800 and 1,000 households are thought to use LPG.

For more information click here: Householder Information Sheet

Community oil bulk buying scheme

Community First has set up a new community oil bulk buying scheme that will help people living in rural communities to reduce their bills.  You can join as a new member of as part of an existing oil buying group - by bringing small groups together we can bring fuel costs down even lower.  Click here to see the leaflet Community First Oil bulk buying or to download the registration form click here: CF registration form.  To visit their website, click here Community First. 

Free insulation

A free household insulation scheme initially aimed at residents over 60 years of age and launched at the beginning of the year has now been extended to cover all households regardless of age.  The scheme enables households with a low energy efficiency rating to install loft and cavity wall insulation for free.

Malvern Hills District Council, working in partnership with Warmer Worcestershire (sponsored by Worcestershire County Council) and Act on Energy (a registered charity providing energy efficiency advice), can now offer a free energy survey and advice service to all residents.  Act on Energy will coordinate the work which will be carried out by A & M Insulation Ltd who are the council’s official contractors for this particular scheme.

In a typical home, as much as one third of the heat is lost through the roof and walls.  With average energy bills now well over £1300 per year, you could make savings of up to £250 a year through insulating your loft and cavity walls.  Even if cavity wall insulation is not possible for the property, Act on Energy might be able to help in other ways.

Funding is strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so please don’t delay. 

To book your free energy survey, without obligation, call the council’s agents ‘Act on Energy’ now on 0800 9882881.

If you have any questions about the scheme as a whole, please call David Rolls at MHDC on 01684 862131.