The AP reports that House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on a bill to alter when fuel oil companies and customers can sign pre-buy contracts. This follows the failure of Flynn Oil some years ago due to over-optimistic pricing that left it unable to deliver heating oil in the middle of winter.
The bill is in response to disruptions in home heating oil deliveries this winter by one of New Hampshire's largest fuel companies. The bill prohibits dealers from advertising or soliciting earlier than May 1 for consumers to enter into contracts for the upcoming fuel season. Currently, the contracts can't be offered before Jan. 1.
Consumers could sign contracts before May 1 at their request.
This winter, hundreds of customers complained about delivery problems with Fred Fuller Oil Co. The company blamed the problems on extreme weather conditions, a huge increase in demand and its phone system.