The price of a tank of home heating oil can vary by as much as €80, depending on where in the country it is bought and which supplier is chosen, a new survey from the National Consumer Agency (NCA) has found.
Earlier this month, the agency surveyed prices for the supply and delivery of 1,000 litres of home heating oil from 134 suppliers across the State.
It found that that the average price paid for 1,000 litres of kerosene across 21 locations was €670, or 67 cent per litre, inclusive of VAT.
Price variations around this average were striking. On September 3rd, the day the survey was carried out, consumers in Ennis were paying an average of €696, while in Drogheda, the price was €655.
The lowest price for the tank of oil was €640 and were recorded in Sligo and north Co Galway. The highest price quoted was in south Dublin where one supplier was charging €720.
The survey is part of the NCA's rolling programme of price surveys targeting a wide range of goods and services relevant to consumers' everyday needs.
Even in the same areas there were some substantial price differentials and in almost 20 per cent of cases there were price variations of €40 or more in the same area. The highest variation was recorded in south Dublin where the difference between the lowest and the highest prices quoted was €71.
The agency's director of research, policy and communications Maria Hurley said the survey showed consumers can make savings on their home heating costs "with just a couple of quick and simple phone calls".
She said the agency had confined its enquiries to delivery areas close to suppliers' premises.
"[Consumers] may find that they can access greater savings by simply casting the net a little wider than their local area when checking prices for their home heating fuel, as many suppliers may be willing to deliver further afield."
She said the results were "good news for any consumers who are concerned about the rising cost of home heating oil, particularly as we come into winter."
