You may not know it, but the summer of 1816 is famous for having been wet, cold and generally miserable throughout the UK, and indeed unusual weather patterns occurred globally that year. Sound familiar?
Frost and even snowfall occurred in June and July in Britain – all this led to 1816 becoming known as the ‘Year without a Summer’. And author and Meteorologist, Jim Dale, has said it’s ‘not impossible’ for it to happen again.
But we’re really hoping not! Whilst this spring has continued in the same vein as the previous few months of 2024, with unsettled weather and storms such as Storm Kathleen, the eleventh named storm of the season, bringing heavy rain, flooding and strong winds to the UK, we’re all hoping for better weather ahead so we can top up our vitamin D.
And whilst planning for winter might be the furthest thing from your mind, now really is a great time to start your preparations for the colder months ahead, not just from a budgeting perspective, but it’s also a great time to make some energy-saving improvements at home. Let’s face it, we all like to keep warm and toasty in the winter, not just so we’re comfortable but because it’s good for our health too!
So in this blog, we’re going to look at how Northern Energy can help you plan ahead and ease the financial burden of big winter bills with the Northern Energy Flexi Saver Plan.
Flexi saving
As we’re all feeling the pinch right now with the current cost of living crisis, the thought of one-off big winter heating oil bills can really be quite daunting.
As temperatures drop, we’ll all be reaching for the thermostat so we can get our heating oil boilers whirring. So it’s good to be savvy, get your finances under control, and plan your budget well ahead of winter.
The first step is to begin by estimating how much domestic heating oil you will use throughout the upcoming winter months. Assess your past winter fuel expenses by looking at your bills for the last couple of winters which will give you some idea of the amount of heating oil you’re likely to use. If you’re new to the property, or even new to home heating oil, our friendly and experienced customer service team are just at the end of the phone and can give you help and guidance on your potential heating oil usage in the winter months.
Of course, the unpredictable nature of fluctuating British winters can make this very challenging! Some winters are milder than others so your boiler won’t work as hard and use as much fuel to heat your home, whilst bitterly cold winters will mean you’ll use more, so bear this in mind.
Another thing to consider is if your circumstances have changed. For instance, have you had an extension and therefore have more rooms to heat, have you had a new heating oil boiler installed which will be more efficient and mean you’ll use less fuel, or have you undertaken energy efficiency home improvements so more heat is retained inside your home? All of these will influence the amount of heating oil you’ll need to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
Then you can set some clear goals and start saving the right amount for you with the Northern Energy Flexi Saver Plan, which as the name suggests, is completely flexible. Save as little or as much as you like each month towards your winter heating oil bills with easy direct debit payments, and have the freedom to change the amount you’re saving to suit you, or any changing circumstances. Plus, any saved money can be refunded back to you if needed, at any time and on request.
Improved economy
One of the benefits of being a Flexi Saver customer is you’ll receive an upgrade to our Premium Heating Oil at no extra cost. Our Premium Heating Oil is traditional kerosene with an additive, which has been specially developed to be cleaner burning, plus your boiler will run up to 15% more efficiently than when using traditional kerosene heating oil, providing better fuel economy and saving you money whilst being good for the environment too.
As it burns more efficiently, Premium Heating Oil keeps the nozzle in your boiler cleaner, with less carbon build-up and lower CO2 emissions. It also reduces the amount of sludge that can build up in your heating oil tank over time, as it contains corrosion inhibitors that help stop rust, and metal deactivators that reduce fuel degradation.
And it reduces boiler breakdown and servicing problems - a win -win all round!
No hidden Fees
Unlike some other heating oil suppliers, with Northern Energy what you see is what you get. There are no hidden fees or service charges.
Avoiding hidden fees is essential for effective saving so you can rest assured that with the Northern Energy Flexi Saver Plan, you have no chance of encountering hidden fees.
So with our Flexi Saver Plan, you really can avoid the worry of big winter bills and have complete peace of mind that you’ve planned ahead for your winter fuel costs. All with the freedom to change the amount you’re paying should your circumstances change.
Of course, heating oil prices are volatile and fluctuate daily, so it’s always difficult to know what’s going to happen in the future, and when's the best time to top up your tank, especially with all the current conflict in the Middle East. The good news is that the price of oil has come down since February 2021 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
If you only pay a minimal amount each month, you can pay any shortfall when you need to place an order, or if you have anything left over after you’ve paid your heating oil bill, you can put it towards your next one. And all with an automatic upgrade to our Premium Heating Oil to make your money go further.
Want to know more? Call us today on 01423 770 666 and we’ll talk you through the Flexi Saver Plan. Or read our blog on why you should choose Northern Energy as your heating oil supplier.