What are you doing about oil prices? **UPDATE with prices I found today**

My contract/rate with my current oil supplier is up on March 14th (oh how I'm going to miss my $2.69/gallon rate ). They agreed to come this week and top me off. Realistically, I won't need another drop until end of April probably.

I've been calling around to a lot of companies and most of them aren't even offering fixed rate or ceiling rate plans right now. They are all claiming that with the oil market being so volitle now, they suggest going into a variable rate plan with at least a 30 cent discount off market price. We could then lock at any time after when the rates go down.

What are you guys doing? I'm a bit nervous going at a variable rate but then I'm thinking that if there's any time to do it, now is that time because in about 2 months (hopefully) the heat will be off and we'll only be using it for hot water. What do you guys think???
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ETA: Here's what I found today:
Slomins – Variable rate – no ceiling/fixed rates – 30 cent discount rate on market price $3.99 is today’s market rate – can lock rate in spring/summer when rates decrease

Meenan – Variable $3.69 (today). Fixed $4.04. Ceiling $4.05 for 1st drop – $4.19 after. Service contract $285/yr.
Negotiated to: Ceiling $4.09. $229 service contract. $100 credit.
Meenan called back – they can do $3.99 ceiling. $99 service. $100 credit

Trager Oil – Variable rate - 30 cent discount on market price. Service contract: gold package – free. Gold plus $149.95. Platinum program (must inspect oil burner before enrolling in this program) $289.95 – if we already paid for gold plus contract they subtract the difference for platinum contract. $100 discount (can use discount on service contract)

Allyn Oil – 1st delivery before may 30 at $2.99. Then variable - 20 cents off market value. Service contract: $115/year

General Utilities – Ceiling $3.74. Service contract $125/year. $100 credit

Charter Oil – No fixed or ceilings – Variable rate. Service Contract: $369/middle contract $349/low contract

Morania Oil – Ceiling $4.59. Service contract $99+tax

Perillo Bros – No fixed or ceilings – Variable rate – posted price today $3.99. 15 cent discount until October 1. Service contract $129.95/year +tax - 24 month contract – covers everything as well as oil tank in full

Lewis Oil – Ceiling $3.94. Fixed $3.71. Service contracts: Basic: Free. Premium $69. $50 credit

Romanelli & Sons – No fixed/ceiling. Variable rate - 10 cent discount. Service contracts: $125/year

Message edited 3/7/2011 4:25:46 PM.

Re: What are you doing about oil prices?

I would just get a COD drop until the market settles down a bit and then lock in on a rate in the summertime when the price per gallon usually drops.

Re: What are you doing about oil prices?

We converted to gas 2 years ago because of the oil price craziness.

We had a contract when we had oil but they were so expensive that we did COD with another company every 2-3 deliveries and then order the minimum delivery with the company with the contract.

Re: What are you doing about oil prices?

I never do a contract. I would wait it out and hope that things in the Middle East calm down or that our President starts approving the applications to drill in the Gulf which will bring the price of oil down. In 2008 when Bush lifted the ban on drilling oil went from $147 a barrel to $33 dollars a barrel in 6 months.

Re: What are you doing about oil prices?

topped off our tank before it went up and we should be good through the summer. If things don't look up I might get a contract this time if its a cheap enough price...

Re: What are you doing about oil prices? **UPDATE with prices I found today**

Bumping to add/show what a lot of the companies are offering. I talked to DH about it and we decided to just do COD and re-look at prices in the summer.

Re: What are you doing about oil prices? **UPDATE with prices I found today**