Recent News
Winter Snow & Ice
Undoubtedly, the cold weather this winter will bring its share of ice and snow. Please take the following actions to help us make sure you get your winter deliveries in a timely manner:
- Clear a path to your fill pipe so that the driver can easily locate it.
- When you plow your driveway, keep in mind that oil trucks are nine feet wide and do not have four wheel drive.
- If your driveway is not clear and dry, please salt and sand for the oil truck.
- Trim low hanging tree branches to accommodate an 11-foot high oil truck.
- If you want to know when you can expect your next delivery, call us at 973-383-1421.
Replace Your Underground Tank
The New Jersey Legislature recently made a change to the grant a New Jersey homeowner can receive for replacing their underground oil tank with an above ground oil tank. The amount of the grant has increased from $3,000 to $3,500 per qualifying homeowner. While there are income and net worth requirements, most homeowners have no problem qualifying.
If you still have an underground oil tank, you know it will not last forever, so we recommend that you take advantage of the state fund and replace your tank before it leaks. Please call us with any questions or if you would like a free estimate to remove and replace your tank.
Citizens Energy Oil Heat Assistance Program
Once again this winter, Hart & Iliff will participate in the Oil Heat Low Income Energy Assistance Program offered by Citizens Energy/Citgo. To qualify for the program, a homeowner or tenant must meet certain income requirements related to the poverty level for the State of New Jersey. If you are approved, Citizens Energy will provide 100 gallons of free oil one time between December 3, 2008, and February 28, 2009. The Citizens Energy Program can be used by both automatic and will call delivery customers. However, keep in mind that our minimum delivery is 150 gallons.
To apply for the program or to find out if you qualify, call Citizens Energy toll-free at 877-563-4645.
Winter Snow And Ice Advice
Undoubtedly, the cold weather this winter will bring our share of ice and snow. Please take the following actions to help us make sure you get your winter deliveries in a timely manner:
- Clear a path to your fill pipe so that the driver can easily locate it.
- When you plow your driveway, keep in mind that oil trucks are nine feet wide and do not have four-wheel drive.
- If your driveway is not clear and dry, please salt and sand for the oil truck.
- If you want to know when you can expect your next delivery, call us at 973-383-1421.
Roth Double Wall Tanks Are Now Manufactured In The U.S.
EIA Estimates Winter Heating Bills
As we went to press, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) lowered its winter energy price forecast. The EIA provides official energy statistics from the U.S. Government. The price forecast was lowered because of mild weather and faster than expected recovery of hurricane damaged oil and gas facilities in the Gulf. The EIA now estimates that, on the average, U.S. households that heat with natural gas are expected to pay 38% more, and consumers who heat with heating oil 21% more, than last winter. The EIA also accelerated its projections as to when oil and gas facilities in the Gulf will be fully restored. Three additional Gulf refineries that were damaged by the hurricanes were expected to be back in operation by the end of February.
Home Improvement License
Effective January 1, 2006, all contractors performing home improvements in the State of New Jersey must be licensed. Licensed contractors register with The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and maintain commercial general liability insurance coverage. Hart & Iliff ’s Home Improvement License number is 13VH01204100. We advise you to make sure that all contractors working in your home are licensed.
Winter Energy Prices
In September, the U.S. Energy Department warned consumers that energy prices are expected to rise significantly this winter. A report by the department’s statistical agency, the Energy Information Administration, indicated that the extent of the price increase will depend on how quickly oil and gas rigs and Gulf Coast refineries damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita can be repaired. The agency estimated that by November domestic oil production and refining capacity should return to levels that existed in August, before Katrina disrupted Gulf Oil production. The report projected that, depending upon how you heat your home, winter prices can be expected to increase by the following percentages:
- Natural Gas - 71%
- Heating Oil - 31%
- Electricity - 17%
A New Hampshire Story
We recently received a phone call from a woman who lives in a small town in southwestern New Hampshire. She called to find out where she could get a Roth Double Wall Safety Tank and told us a story that illustrates why Hart & Iliff is such a strong advocate of the Roth Tank.
Her property is an old farmhouse with a partial dirt floor basement. Early in the summer, she had her oil company fill her nine-year-old, 275-gallon steel tank. A few days later, she walked into the house and immediately smelled oil. A pinhole leak had developed in the seam of the steel tank and the contents had discharged into the basement. The oil got into the groundwater, necessitating a significant cleanup that took all summer.
Fortunately for her, there is an environmental fund in New Hampshire, which covered the cost of the cleanup. Since she wasn’t directly involved, she is unsure of the cleanup cost, but was told that it was at least $30,000. With a Roth Double Wall Safety Tank in your basement, this type of horror story could never happen to you.
Conference Speaker Charles Brand
Charles J. Brand of Sparta, N.J. was a speaker at the bi-annual Discover the New Dimension in Oil Heat Conference held in Boston, Massachusetts on May 10-11, 2005. The conference was sponsored by the New England Fuel Institute (NEFI) and included an Oilheat Energy Expo. The NEFI conference and Expo was attended by over 7,000 petroleum marketers and heating professionals. The subject of the speech was, How to Properly Staff a Modern Energy Company With Qualified Technicians and Other Employees.Charles Brand is the President of Hart & Iliff Fuel and Energy Systems, Newton, NJ.
Service Technician Training
Joseph Bresett recently attended a training seminar titled "The Lost Art of Steam Heating." The seminar was conducted by Dan Holohan, a nationally known speaker and writer on hydronic and steam heating. The subjects discussed included proper design and troubleshooting of steam heating systems. This is an example of the type of training we give our technicians on a regular basis in order to ensure they are the best in the industry.Heating Oil Still Costs Less Than Natural Gas
On September 29th, The Wall Street Journal contained an article entitled, "How To Combat Higher Oil Prices." Coincidentally, this was the same day that crude oil prices broke the $50/ barrel price. The article mentioned various ways to cut heating costs and concluded that heating oil still costs less than gas or electricity. "Despite soaring prices, oil remains less costly for home heating than either natural gas or electricity. With demand strong and supply tight, natural gas costs at least 15% more that heating oil. Using electricity for heat costs as much as 15% more that natural gas."Hart & Iliff Featured in Industry Publication
Hart & Iliff was recently featured in Oil & Energy magazine. Oil & Energy is a national publication that is distributed to oil heat dealers and members of the oil industry all over the country.
The March 2004 issue contained an article by Charles Brand, president of Hart & Iliff. The article, entitled "Using Fuel Consumption to Properly Size Heating Equipment," explains how to save customers money by sizing heating equipment utilizing historical fuel consumption data. In the article, Brand says, "In the old days, when fuel was inexpensive, it was less important to properly size equipment. Today, there is no reason to install oversized equipment." If you would like a copy of the article, let us know and we will be glad to send it to you.
Voice Mail?
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal pointed out that to cut costs, more and more companies are using voice mail to replace live operators. The article detailed the steps to take to bypass a voice mail system. When you are a Hart & Iliff customer, you never have to worry about bypassing voice mail. If you call, during regular business hours, you will always get a friendly, helpful human being on the other end of the line.
Silver Certification
John Dempsey was awarded the "Silver Certification" for oil heat service technicians from the National Oil Heat Research Alliance (NORA). To be eligible for this national association’s recognition, Dan and John had to complete an experience requirement, attend various approved training courses totaling more than 100 hours and attain a passing grade on NORA’s silver certification exam. After obtaining the "Silver Certification", technicians are required to attend 24 hours of continuing education courses over the next five years. All of our technicians are certified and receive training on a regular basis in order to ensure they are the best in the industry.
Home Energy Assistance Applications Available
Applications for Home Energy Assistance (HEA) are available from November 1 to February 28. HEA offers heating assistance for the costs associated with heating your home, provided that you meet certain income requirements. In addition, funds are also available for modification, repair and replacement of insulation, windows and heating equipment under New Jersey’s Weatherization program.
In Sussex and Warren counties, applications can be obtained by contacting the Northwest Community Action Program at (888) 454-4778. Over the years, many of our customers have qualified for these benefits. If you should have any questions, please give us a call at (973) 383-1421.
The Freedom of Choice Program
Hart & Iliff introduces a unique program called Freedom of Choice. It gives you two ways to buy your heating oil. Our Traditional Plan or our new Easy Pay Plan which gives you the option to buy for a lot less. Either way you get our exclusive Ultrablend Heating Oil.Research Shows Heating Oil Costs Less Than Natural Gas
In December 2001, The Energy Research Center Inc. did a study comparing the price of natural gas to the price of heating oil. The average price for natural gas from the four New Jersey gas utilities, on a per gallon equivalent basis, was $1.46. The average price for natural gas by Elizabethtown Gas in Sussex County, on a per gallon equivalent basis, was $1.69.A U.S. Department of Energy survey found that on December 10, 2001, the average price for residential heating oil in New Jersey was $1.14 per gallon. Therefore, on average, in December 2001, natural gas prices in New Jersey were 28% higher than heating oil and Elizabethtown Gas prices were 48% higher than heating oil. Heating oil continues to be your best energy value!
Service Technician Training
Several of our service technicians recently attended a training seminar on hydronic (water based) heating systems in Plainview, New York. The seminar was conducted by Dan Holohan, a nationally known speaker and writer on hydronic heating. The subjects discussed included proper design and troubleshooting of hot water based heating systems, both old and new, including under floor radiant heat. This is an example of the type of training we give our technicians on a regular basis in order to ensure they are the best in the industry.Ultraviolet Air Purification
With the recent anthrax scare, more attention is being focused on indoor air quality. Heating and air conditioning systems can be dark and damp breeding grounds for various types of mold and bacteria. For many years, scientists have known that the ultraviolet rays of the sun are one of the most effective air purifiers. Exposure to ultraviolet energy waves can kill many common types of bacteria, viruses, yeasts and molds. Through recent technological advances, compact ultraviolet lamps can now be installed directly inside forced air ductwork. These ultraviolet lamps replicate the natural outdoor purification system of the sun and destroy the allergy and disease causing microbes living and multiplying in indoor air.For information about ultraviolet air purification systems, call us at 973-383-1421.
Comfort Line Wins!
We're proud to announce that Hart & Iliff's Comfort Line, has been honored with an Award of Excellence in the APEX 2001 Awards for Publication Excellence. Last quarter, Comfort Line won an Award of Distinction in the Communicator Awards 2001 Print Media Competition. So Comfort Line is a two-time award winning newsletter.
Hart & Iliff Featured in Industry Publication
Hart & Iliff was recently featured in the November and December 1999 issues of Oilheating Magazine. Oilheating is a national publication which is distributed to oil heat dealers and members of the oil industry all over the country. The November 1999 issue contained an article by Charles Brand, President of Hart & Iliff. The article entitled "Using Fuel Consumption to Properly Size Heating Equipment" explains how to save customers money by sizing heating equipment utilizing historical fuel consumption data. In the article Brand says, "In the old days, when fuel was inexpensive, it was less important to properly size equipment. Today, there is no reason to install oversized equipment in a customer's home or business."The cover story of the December 1999 edition of Oilheating was about a program which Hart & Iliff has been using with builders in Sussex County. As part of the program, Hart & Iliff installs environmentally friendly double wall Roth Safety Oil Tanks manufactured in Europe. The tanks encourage local builders to use oil instead of propane in their new homes. Every home built with oil heat benefits the local home buyer, since it costs about twice as much to heat a home with propane as it does with heating oil.
If you would like copies of either of these articles, let us know and we will be glad to send them to you.
Hart & Iliff was featured in the November and December 1999 issues of Oilheating Magazine.
EPA Recommends Annual Tune-Up
In the publication Get The Most From Your Heating Oil Dollar, the EPA recommends an annual tune-up of your heating system for the following reasons:- An annual tune-up saves money. The amount of savings will depend on several factors, but could be as much as 13% of your total annual fuel bill.
- By having annual maintenance performed during the summer months, expensive, unexpected equipment failures are less likely to occur during the heating season.
- An annual tune-up reduces pollution. The EPA also recommends that annual tune-ups should be performed by qualified oil burner service technicians so that the unit is properly adjusted using the correct instruments. Contact us to schedule your annual tune-up.
Hart & Iliff Awarded Distributorship
Roth Industries - USA, of Watertown, New York, has awarded Hart & Iliff Energy Systems of Newton, New Jersey, a Distributorship for Northwestern New Jersey.
Roth, whose headquarters are in Hessen, Germany, is a world leader in the manufacture of double wall polyethene oil storage tanks. These double wall oil tanks, known as "Safety Tanks", are fully approved for use in the United States and come standard with a 10 year, $1,000,000 warranty.
Hart & Iliff has been in the energy business since 1889.
Our Website is New!
Welcome to our new website. We will feature articles, specials and other happenings here.Please tell us what you think of this site, and let us know if there is anything you think we missed.
Thank you for your patronage,
Hart & Iliff
