Dear Friends,
This is our 79th year in the heating fuel business. Over that time, we’ve consistently improved our capabilities and expanded our product line. One of the most important changes in the past decade has been our transition to delivering B20 BioHeat® fuel to all of our customers. Because we have our own 1.2-million-gallon marine storage terminal, we are able to ensure a steady supply and a high-quality product.
We were the first company in our area to enter the biofuels market. It’s rewarding to see others in the industry just beginning to catch up to the benefits of delivering this clean-burning renewable heating oil. Thanks to a 20¢-per-gallon state tax credit, our New York customers reap an extra reward for using Westmore’s B20 BioHeat.
We’re so proud that Westmore is helping local communities reduce their carbon footprint and save money. Recently, NewCanaanite.com posted a great feature story about the positive difference we have made in their town. The article highlighted comments from Sean Lytle, our oil delivery manager, a resident of New Canaan.
The story also featured Ed Kirk, the facilities director at the New Canaan Country School. Kirk explained that the school switched to Westmore specifically because we offered B20 BioHeat. The school, which burns 70,000 to 80,000 gallons of heating oil per year, was strongly committed to using a more earth-friendly product. They were delighted that we could provide a cleaner fuel at a lower cost than they had previously paid for traditional heating oil.
You can read the complete article by going to our blog page and checking out the Feb. 6, 2017, post.
Warmly,
Richard C. Bologna
Thanks to all of you who entered our long-termcustomer contest. The only requirement for entering was that you had to have been a Westmore Fuel customer for 10 years or more. We chose three winners at random from all of the entries we received. Here are our three winners:
Shelia Oliver, of Port Chester, was the lucky winner of our top prize, an iPad mini, valued at $299. A second-generation customer, Shelia has relied on us for more than 30 years for her family’s fuel. She enjoys visiting our office regularly to make her monthly payments, and we always look forward to seeing her because of her sunny personality.
Margaret and Phil Gambino, of Harrison, also won $100 in free heating oil. Customers for more than 20 years, they told us that they most appreciate our honesty. “The service and sincere dealings with Westmore are great; that’s hard to find these days,” said Margaret.
With every passing year, heating oil continues its evolution into a newer, cleaner and more efficient fuel. Knowing more about today’s oil heat will make you feel good about how you heat your home — now and well into the future.
One of the biggest transitions in heating oil has been the move to ultra-low-sulfur heating oil. This refined fuel reduces the need for maintenance, improves efficiency and reduces emissions from heating systems. It has also paved the way for the next generation of compact, super-efficient boilers and furnaces. Many gallons of heating oil include Bioheat®, a blend of heating oil and renewable materials like vegetable oils.
According to a comprehensive report conducted by Brookhaven National Laboratory and presented to Congress in 2015 by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), blends containing 20% or more Bioheat produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas!
The report states, “Bioheat heating oil is a clean, responsible alternative to natural gas heating systems and performs admirably against all other heating systems.”
This is only the beginning. The quality of heating oil will get better and better in the years ahead. Soon, homes that heat with oil could be using even cleaner, burning blends.
We’re excited by these new opportunities because they will positively influence the long-term future of the industry and the environment while uplifting the oil heat experience of our customers.
They say you get better with age, but that’s not true of oil tanks. If your oil tank is more than 30 years old, we recommend replacing it.
While it’s true that oil tanks last many years, they eventually do give out. Life spans vary depending on the humidity, the thickness of the tank’s steel and more. And when tanks do fail, it’s hard to see it coming, because they can erode from the inside out.
Today’s oil tanks are light-years ahead of old models. The new generation of aboveground tanks are virtually leakproof and feature:
If that’s not enough, the newest generation of aboveground tanks generally can be installed in small or unusually shaped spaces.
In short, today’s tanks provide peace of mind and convenience — in addition to all the other benefits of heating your home with oil!
If your boiler or furnace is at least 15 years old, consider replacing your heating system soon; the performance and reliability of heating equipment typically deteriorates after 15 years (earlier if maintenance has been neglected).
At minimum, a new high-efficiency oil heating system should help you save up to 20% on your annual heating costs. Additionally, you will also have virtually eliminated the need for the expensive repairs and the escalating maintenance costs associated with an aging system.
And when you combine a new oil heating system with clean-burning Bioheat®, you’ll have a double-win.
Bioheat is not only kind to the environment, it’s kind to your heating system too. It’s extremely clean-burning and boasts the highest Btu content of any alternative fuel. Bioheat has also paved the way for the next generation of compact, super-efficient boilers and furnaces.
Many of our customers now use their boilers not only to heat their homes, but to produce hot water for showers, hot tubs, washing machines, dishwashers — you name it. And they get it virtually free in the winter.
It’s called an indirect-fired water heater, and if you have a boiler, it can be a phenomenal option for you to consider.
Anytime your boiler is heating your home, your indirect water heater works for free. It’s like having your cake and eating it, too. A traditional stand-alone water heater has to use gas or electricity to keep that water hot. And that’s a huge waste of money.
If you have a gas or electric water heater that is 10 years old or older, start checking out your options today!
Anytime your boiler is heating your home, your indirect water heater works for free!
Oil heat is cleaner, greener and more economical than ever! The latest oil heating systems are small, smart and super-efficient. Plus, there are many different equipment options to fit your budget.
Q: When do I need to sign up for a pricing plan this year?
A: You can enter into price protection at any time. There is no deadline. What’s new is that our price contracts are now good for a true 12 months. Your 12-month contract goes into effect beginning on the date you enroll and expires when you have received all the fuel in the contract or 12 months from the enrollment date, whichever occurs first. If you choose not to enter into another pricing contract, your oil will be priced at the current floating market rate.
Q: How can I keep track of when to renew my contract?
A: An email is automatically sent out alerting you when you have received 80% of your contracted fuel or when you have 45 days remaining before your contract’s expiration date.
Q: How can I enter into a pricing contract?
A: You can log in to your account at myaccount.westmorefuel.com. You can also contact our office. If you have an email address, we can now email a pricing contract for you to approve with a point and a click. It is much faster and easier than the old way of using the Postal Service.
If you’ve ever visited our office, you may have met Carmen Bueno, who does double duty as one of our customer-service representatives and our point person for credit issues.
“One of the most important things I do is to help customers who have fallen behind with their payments,” says Carmen, who first joined our team in 2000. “It’s always important for customers to let us know early on that they’re having problems. We are very flexible. Sometimes, the solution is as simple as setting customers up on a monthly payment plan to spread out their heating costs. Some customers are surprised to learn that we can do that for them — at no extra charge.”
Away from work, Carmen enjoys family time with her husband, Addy, and their three children, who range in age from 3 to 12.
Do you conduct a lot of your business online? You can do that with Westmore, too! Our online portal is easy to use and, best of all, you can access our current pricing, anytime you want.
If you haven’t set up your account online yet, please follow these simple instructions:
If you have any difficulties or need further information, just give us a call.