Red Diesel Prices and the effect of the EU Energy Taxation Directive

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Paul

Red diesel users have been offered a glimmer of hope that the tax exemption attached to the fuel will remain intact.

The European Commission has published a draft proposal on the issue, which states that the red diesel price perks will be kept as long as the agricultural sector meets its targets to cut emissions.

It had been feared the system was going to be scrapped altogether last week, but the Energy Taxation Directive has given farmers an added incentive to trim their fuel consumption. Technology could now be used to closely monitor the amount of red diesel used within the industry.

“We need a more resource-efficient, greener and more competitive EU economy and [this framework is] an opportunity to shift the tax burden from labour to consumption, in order to favour growth-enhancing taxation,” commented commissioner for taxation and customs Algirdas Semeta.

Red diesel continues to be important to the running of a farm, as the fuel is considerably cheaper than the standard version, with a litre currently costing about 70p in the UK (April 2011). The UK already has the highest rates of tax on road fuel in Europe and the duty rate on red diesel has increased nearly fourfold in the past ten years. Farmers will find any increase in the price of red diesel as a hard burden to bear!

View the latest red diesel price trends in our BoilerJuice Price Chart

Warm Front scheme reopens for struggling heating oil users

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Paul

The government’s Warm Front scheme has opened its doors once again to heating oil users who are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Representatives of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have suggested the initiative is accessible to more than 90,000 households that are deemed to be blighted by fuel poverty.

“Next year we will be launching the Green Deal, the government’s national overhaul of home energy efficiency, which will provide extra help to vulnerable households,” he remarked.

What is the Warm Front scheme?

The Warm Front scheme makes your home warmer, healthier and more energy efficient

The Warm Front scheme provides heating and insulation improvements to households on certain income-related benefits living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system.

Qualifying households can get improvements worth up to £3,500 (£6,000 where oil central heating and other alternative technologies are recommended).

Grants are available for improvements such as:

loft insulation

draughtproofing

cavity wall insulation

hot water tank insulation

gas, electric, liquid petroleum gas or oil heating

glass-fronted fire – the Warm Front scheme can convert your solid-fuel open fire to a glass-fronted fire

You won’t have to pay anything as long as the work doesn’t cost more than the grant available. If the cost of the work is more than the grant available you’ll have to make a contribution to enable work to go ahead. Work will not start without making sure you are willing and able to pay the difference.

The Warm Front scheme installs insulation and heating improvements to make homes more energy efficient. The scheme now has a new set of eligibility criteria and will be accepting new applications from 14 April 2011 so don’t delay, apply today to cut your fuel bills in 2011.

Low Sulphur Kerosene and the effect on Agas & Oil Boilers

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Paul

Over the last few years there has been much discussion about the changes in kerosene quality (heating oil & Aga fuel) and the increase in reported field problems with boilers and Aga’s. Problems seem to be on the increase for all boilers, but the vaporising cookers such as AGAs appear to have been particularly affected.

According to some fuel quality chemists, another contributing factor to more variable fuel quality is the BS2869C2 kerosene quality standard. All fuels sold in the UK meet this standard, but there appears to be a trend of the quality being closer to the limits of this specification than it would have been in the past. This change is probably being driven by the higher manufacturing cost of the lower sulphur kerosene.

Have you noticed increased issues with your Aga or Boiler since the low sulphur fuels were introduced a few years ago? Did you find that using Premium Aga Fuel Additives (CookerMax) reduced the issues that you may have previously experienced? Do you have any other hints and tips for fellow Aga owners?

Boilerjuice Heating Oil Price Graph for Northern Ireland

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Paul

One of the best ways to keep up to date with the changing heating oil prices in Northern Ireland is the Boilerjuice Price graph. It is exceptionally simple to use and understand. We collect oil prices from all of our participating suppliers that deliver in Northern Ireland and calculate the average price in ‘pence per litre’ and plot it on our graph.

As you would expect, heating oil prices tend to rise in winter when the demand is highest, you will also see how prices can go up and down on a frequent basis, keeping a close eye on our chart can certainly help to make more informed decisions when buying your heating oil. Unlike our main UK heating oil price chart, our Northern Ireland chart only has data going back to October 2010, but we are now storing these prices and will retain the information to help you spot seasonal trends in Northern Ireland.

I hope you find the NEW Northern Ireland Heating Oil Price Chart useful.

If you would like to add the Boilerjuice price graph to your website you are welcome to do so… more details.

Win a Year’s Supply of Premium Heating Oil Addititives

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Paul

Yes, that’s right! As an added bonus, if you place an order for heating oil with BoilerJuice.com in April for more than 500 litres you will automatically be entered into our prize draw. You could win a year’s supply (5 bottles) of BoilerMax or CookerMax worth £59.95.

BoilerJuice oil additives are specially formulated to keep your boiler in tip-top condition, reducing sludge and the build up of carbon deposits to make your boiler work more efficiently. Find out exactly how oil additives work.

Terms and Conditions

Minimum delivery 500 litres, Group savings offer applies to standard orders with a standard tanker only, we always try to offer savings, but cannot guarantee this as it’s dependent on others in your area placing orders.

*This prize draw is only open for entry to domestic customers, based in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each of the 10 winners will receive: 5 bottles of either BoilerMax or CookerMax, sufficient to treat 5,000 litres of fuel, which is approximately one year’s supply.
Winners will be notified within 7 days of the closing date which is 30/04/2011 at 23:59, for full terms and conditions please see our website.