Heating oil syndicates – community action saving money

Stratford-on-Avon District Council is hosting an event next week for anyone interested in setting up an Oil Syndicate.

The practical session will explore how your area may benefit from setting up an Oil Syndicate, hear from areas where these are established and have seen real cost benefits and how energy costs can be addressed in areas where there is no mains gas through other means.

With the rising cost of oil it is hoped that by offering this event it will provide an opportunity to address energy costs.  There are a range of guest speakers: Craig Wiggins of Brailes Oil Syndicate, Chris Finch of the Harbury Energy Initiative, Roger Matthews of Transition Stratford and Community Energy Warwickshire and David Jullien, Chief Executive of Act on Energy – the local energy advice agency.

The event will be held on Thursday 7 July starting at 7.30pm at the District Council's headquarters in Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.

For further information please contact Paul Chapman, Policy Officer at the District Council on 01789 260125.

An Oil Syndicate is where local people organise themselves into a large group to give themselves more buying power when ordering oil.  Oil suppliers will offer a discount if they can make several deliveries at the same location on the same day. They save on mileage, their carbon footprint and their driver's time.

Oil Syndicates report savings of around 3-4pence per litre, with average savings of £32 for 500 litres and £42 for 1000 litres achieved with bulk buying.