When spring and summer roll around in Pennsylvania, we know that our fuel oil customers are probably excited to stop thinking about winter and heating bills. Why? Because so many homeowners get stuck paying high oil bills and dealing with unexpected prices throughout the cold season. That is exactly why late spring/early summer is the best time to start considering a Budget Plan!
So, what exactly is a budget program? This monthly payment plan allows you to enjoy low fuel bills from June through April instead of paying huge sums of money at random points throughout the winter. Here's how it works:
- We estimate the annual fuel gallons you’ll need for the entire year.
- We multiply the number of gallons by the market price of your fuel.
- We divide this price into 11 equal, stable payments that we bill monthly.
- Each monthly payment builds a credit on your account, which is used to pay off each delivery.
Signing up for a heating oil budget plan, which starts in early summer, will set you up for a stress-free, warm, and predictable winter when it comes to your heating oil. Check out these six reasons you should sign up for a budget plan!
Benefits of a Heating Oil Budget Plan With ECI
1. You can spread out your oil payments
You pay for all your other household utilities by monthly payment, so why not do the same for your home heating fuel? Rather than paying after each delivery -- which, at current prices, can be close to $800 if you fill your tank -- you can spread out your bills across 11 months. This way, you can pay the same, lower bill each month.
2. You'll never be surprised by a high bill
Because your bill is the same each month, you'll never be surprised by having to pay hundreds of dollars more than you expected. Whereas automatic delivery customers who are not on a budget plan have to pay after each delivery, which can come at any time and be at any price, customers on a budget plan know what they are paying and when it's due.
3. You'll never worry about running out of oil
Speaking of automatic delivery, having us monitor your usage means you won't have to remember to check your oil or call in for a delivery. We track current temperatures, past usage, and other factors to determine when your next delivery should be scheduled. And, we'll never let you get too low.
4. You can receive automatic payment discounts
Another benefit of automatic delivery is automatic payment discounts! By signing up for automatic monthly withdrawals from a credit card or bank account (EFT), you will receive instantaneous discounts on each gallon of every order. Plus, automatic withdrawal means that you don't have to worry about remembering to call or mail in a payment in time.
5. You can opt-in to receive a price cap
A price cap budget works the same was as a standard budget plan, but instead caps your oil price instead of going by the market price. This will ensure you never pay more than the capped-price-per-gallon but still decreases if the market price falls below the cap price. There is a fee to enroll in this plan -- usually around $23 a month to cover the cap price (think of this like insurance) -- and the fee is included in your monthly budget payments.
6. The money on your account will never expire
As mentioned earlier, each monthly payment builds a credit on your account, which is used to pay off each delivery. If you have a leftover credit after the 11-month budget plan ends, you can roll it into your upcoming budget plan. By starting off the new budget season with a credit on your account, you'll likely have lower monthly payments! If for some reason you aren't going to renew your budget plan, we can use the credit for your next regular delivery or refund it back to you. Regardless, you'll never lose it.
Heating your home is a necessity to stay comfortable throughout the winter. In recent years, heating oil prices have been volatile and unpredictable, which is why a Budget or Price Cap Budget plan is a great option to keep you warm and help you save on fuel bills. Want to learn more about a Budget plan with ECI Comfort? Visit our website or give us a call at 215-245-3200.
If you live in the Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia area and would like to find comfort within your home, visit our website or give us a call at 215 - 245 - 3200 to learn more.
