The UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) and the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) launched their Be Winter Wise campaign on 26 September 2023, described by UKIFDA as "a five-point plan to help heating oil users plan ahead for winter 2023-2024"1. The campaign is aimed at the 1.7 million households that are not connected to the gas grid1.
UKIFDA chief executive Ken Cronin said households often use more oil than they expect after a poor summer and leave ordering until the last minute. He said an emergency delivery during the busy winter months can be costly and that it is not always possible for distributors to make that type of delivery1. OFTEC chief executive Paul Rose recommended booking an OFTEC registered technician to service liquid fuel-fired heating and cooking systems annually, saying this can reduce fuel bills and save money on call out fees for unexpected breakdowns. He said technicians must undergo training and are regularly inspected before becoming OFTEC registered1.
"Our advice is to buy early. Often people use more than they anticipate during poor summers and leave it to the last minute to order."
The campaign also covers UKIFDA's Cold Weather Priority (CWP) scheme, which UKIFDA says identifies those most at risk from the cold and takes proactive steps to prioritise deliveries to them. UKIFDA customers aged 75 or over are eligible to join at no cost by asking their usual UKIFDA heating oil supplier to include them1. The campaign points to the Government's Help for Households campaign and its Help With Your Energy Bills guide for advice on this year's Winter Fuel and Cold Weather payments1. UKIFDA recommends contacting local distributors early for pricing and payment options1.
| Item | Detail given by UKIFDA and OFTEC |
|---|---|
| Campaign | Be Winter Wise, a five-point plan for winter 2023-20241 |
| Audience | 1.7 million off gas grid households1 |
| Cold Weather Priority scheme | Open to UKIFDA customers aged 75 or over, at no cost, via their usual supplier1 |
| Servicing advice | Annual service by an OFTEC registered technician1 |
| Payment help signposted | Government Help for Households, including Winter Fuel and Cold Weather payments1 |
Why it matters for households
The guidance applies to households that rely on heating oil rather than mains gas, from the start of winter 2023-2024. UKIFDA's position is that ordering early matters because emergency deliveries in winter can be costly and are not always possible1. Households aged 75 or over buying from a UKIFDA supplier can ask to be added to the Cold Weather Priority scheme, which UKIFDA says prioritises deliveries to those most at risk from the cold and costs nothing to join1. OFTEC's advice is that systems be serviced annually by an OFTEC registered technician1. UKIFDA directs households struggling to pay for oil to the Government's Help for Households guidance on Winter Fuel and Cold Weather payments1. Further detail on the scheme is set out in the guide to the Cold Weather Priority Scheme for Heating Oil, with related guidance in the heating-and-cooking hub, the before-winter checklist for your heating and stove, heating oil tanks: keeping a supply through winter and Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payment and Warm Home Discount.
What happens next
No further dates for the campaign have been reported. UKIFDA's announcement of 26 September 2023 also referred to a separate statement responding to the Government's response to the Competition and Markets Authority heating oil market review, published the same day1.
