The price of heating oil is a great concern to many people since last winter. With the high price of oil as compared to previous years, keeping warm during the winter has become a luxury for many. It frightening to think about how many people will not be able to afford to buy oil this winter due to the price and the lack of available funds.

After doing some research and making some phone calls, I discovered some very interesting facts about the price of heating oil. The difference from one company to the next was amazing. All of these companies were in the same local area and make deliveries to the area I specified. One company was $3.59 per gallon, the next company was $2.89 per gallon and the third company was $3.95 per gallon. This range in price was quite shocking. I must add that the third company which was charging $3.95 per gallon stated that this was cash on delivery, no checks. What shocked me was that this company was the most abrupt on the telephone and did not offer much in the way of customer service.

So just like the price of gas can be so different from one gas station to the next, I guess the same is true about the price of heating oil.

Researching further on the internet, I came across a site that I found very interesting. It is a heating co-operative that you can join for a small fee of $25 which I think is very reasonable. The site is www.heatusa.com. After putting in your information, it will tell you what heating oil company in your area is participating in the co-op. I called the company that was listed and they were extremely helpful and willing to answer questions about the co-op. Basically, you could get oil from them as regular customer or through the co-op.

Another major benefit of the co-op is that the membership includes a 24/7 contract for service should your heating unit break down. This service contract alone is worth approximately $300 or more. This is a very nice benefit. The site lists other membership benefits that come with the $25 annual dues. By the way, the price of heating oil through the co-op was $2.88.

The most important thing anyone can do right now is call different companies and compare their current prices for heating oil. Compare their service contracts, the ceiling plans, the budget plans, payment options (some only take cash and some take credit cards) and ask about any other special programs they may have available.

By all means, check out the heating co-op site and see if that might be an option for saving on the price of heating oil this winter.

www.heatusa.com