Latest update about fuel prices

10/14/22

Dear Customers,

On October 5, OPEC announced it would slash production by two million barrels a day. Within just three days, our suppliers increased the cost of heating oil by 70 cents per gallon. That’s right, 70 cents per gallon.

This is not just impacting heating oil. Expect natural gas, electricity gasoline and propane to move higher. Of course, things can turn around just as quickly. We saw prices spike in spring only to plummet by more than a dollar in summer. There are just too many variables to know where things will go from here.

Right now, our phones are ringing off the hook, and hold times are longer than usual. Remember, we have a “call back” option you will hear while on hold. You can also submit a customer service request through our website. Finally, you can order fuel and pay bills on our online portal accessed on the home page of our website.

A few things to bear in mind:

• We hate high prices and volatility just as much as you do. It hurts our customers, hurts our company, and makes planning very difficult.
• This year supply issues could become problematic. While we have excellent relationships with our suppliers, it is imperative that you go on (or stay on) automatic delivery. This way, if we go on “allocation” from suppliers, have drivers out sick because of COVID or face severe weather, we can manage capacity better and keep you warm.
• Don’t be surprised by big bills. If you’d like to know how much you used last year, so you can project this year’s bills more accurately, call us. This is going to be painful, but it will be helpful to be able to plan for it.
• If you are having trouble keeping up with your payments, it is critical that you call us as soon as you realize there’s an issue. We can work with you, but only if you communicate with us early.

We will try to keep you informed as events unfold. There are many things we can’t control. But we will always prioritize our existing customers over adding new ones. We will go the extra mile to keep you safe and warm. And we will be there when you need us.

The Bottini Fuel Team