Malvern Hills District Council NEWS UPDATE


AUTUMN 2012


Council strikes fuel deal to help slash residents’ heating bills


Residents 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.


As part of its work to tackle fuel poverty, Malvern Hills District Council has been working with Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) suppliers to achieve a bulk fuel price for its


residents to help reduce fuel poverty in its largely rural area resulting in what 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.


MalvernHills DistrictCouncil www.malvernhills.gov.uk


supplier will have to wait until the contract ends if they want to switch.


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. The contract with Lister Gases was signed recently by its MD Nick Carter and Councillor David Hughes Leader of MHDC.


About a third of residents in the district 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, log on to our website or telephone David Rolls, MHDC’s Performance & Policy Manager on 01684 862131.


Heating oil buying groups


Parish councils up and down the country are beginning to establish their own heating oil buying groups meaning that the fuel can be bought in bulk, resulting in lower prices for residents. Within the Malvern Hills district, new groups are being started all the time. There is currently a group in Martley ‘The Martley Syndicate’ which has about 200 members living mainly in Martley, Clifton, Wichenford, Shrawley, Alfrick and Suckley.


Another group ‘the Hanley & Welland Oil Club’ has 230 members living in Hanley, Welland and Castlemorton. A further scheme is being developed for residents of Leigh, Bransford, Suckley and Alfrick.


Householders already buying 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


www.malvernhills.gov.uk


If you would like more information about setting up your own buying group please contact Peter Tebbit, Chair of Malvern Hills County Association of Local Councils (CALC) on 01886 833483.


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